Human Skeletal Remains from Rakhigarhi transferred to Anthropological Survey of India for advanced research

📌 Summary:

• Human skeletal remains excavated from Rakhigarhi (Haryana) have been formally handed over by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) under a recently signed MoU, for detailed scientific investigation
• Rakhigarhi, spread over ~550 hectares, is the largest known settlement of the Indus-Saraswati (Harappan) Civilization, showing continuous habitation from Early to Mature Harappan periods with planned settlements, drainage, craft centres, trade and burials
• In the 2025-26 field season, ASI uncovered eight burials at Mound No. 7; three complete skeletons plus fragments have gone to AnSI's ancient skeletal repository in Kolkata
• Researchers will apply ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis, stable isotope studies, osteology, palaeopathology and environmental reconstruction to study ancestry, migration, diet, disease and adaptation since ~3000 BCE
• Collaborators include Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (Lucknow), University College London, BHU, and CCMB Hyderabad
• The work aims to reconstruct the genomic and population history of the Harappan Civilization and train Indian scientists in palaeogenomics

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS1 (Indian heritage and culture, the Indus Valley Civilization; application of science to archaeology). Connects ancient history with modern genomics and institutional research.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• ASI and AnSI both function under the Ministry of Culture
• Rakhigarhi (Haryana) is the largest Harappan site; other major sites include Mohenjo-daro, Harappa, Dholavira and Lothal
• Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis studies genetic material recovered from old skeletal remains

🔑 Key Term: Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis — the recovery and study of genetic material from ancient skeletal remains to reconstruct ancestry, migration and population history.