Rakhigarhi remains sent for scientific study: What ancient human remains can tell us

📌 Summary:

• Human skeletal remains from the Harappan site of Rakhigarhi (Hisar, Haryana) have been handed over by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI), under the Union Ministry of Culture, for scientific study
• Per a PIB release (June 22), eight burials were uncovered at Mound No. 7 in the 2025-26 field season; three complete skeletons plus fragments transferred to AnSI''s ancient skeletal repository in Kolkata
• Transfer is under an MoU between ASI and AnSI; research to advance multidisciplinary study of the ''Indus-Saraswati Civilization'' in collaboration with Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), University College London (UCL) and BHU ancient-DNA scholars
• Significance: Because the Harappan script is undeciphered, material/skeletal remains are crucial to reconstruct the civilisation; palaeoanthropology, molecular biology and ancient-DNA studies reveal appearance, ancestry, diet, disease and migration patterns

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS1 Art & Culture / Ancient History — Harappan (Indus Valley) Civilisation, archaeology and the use of science (ancient DNA) in history; Prelims-heavy

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Rakhigarhi (Hisar, Haryana) is the largest Harappan site in India, on the Ghaggar-Hakra (Saraswati) plain
• ASI = Archaeological Survey of India; AnSI = Anthropological Survey of India (both significant culture-ministry bodies)
• BSIP (Lucknow) specialises in palaeosciences; the Harappan script remains undeciphered

🔑 Key Term: Ancient DNA (aDNA) — genetic material recovered from old skeletal remains used to study ancestry, migration and population history