New Study Reveals Drought as Key Factor in Decline of Indus Valley Civilization
November 30, 202579 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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A recent study by paleoclimate scientists from India and the United States challenges the notion that the Indus Valley civilization vanished without explanation, suggesting instead that it faced a series of severe droughts lasting over a century.
Published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, the research indicates that between 3,400 and 4,400 years ago, the tributaries of the Indus River experienced significant reductions in flow or ceased altogether, coinciding with a marked decline in rainfall and a gradual rise in temperatures.
The study's authors integrated paleoclimate data derived from isotopic analysis of cave stalagmites in the Sahyadri and Maumlu regions of India, along with advanced climate simulations, to create a comprehensive model of weather patterns during this critical period for the civilization.
Professor Balaghi Rajagopalan from the University of Colorado, who led the research, noted that previous limitations in climatic data had obscured the reasons behind the decline of the Indus Valley civilization. This study allowed for the aggregation and analysis of various indicators, revealing a consistent pattern of prolonged and severe droughts.
The findings showed that rainfall decreased by 10 to 20 percent, while average temperatures rose by approximately half a degree Celsius, attributed to weakened monsoon winds. The study identified four significant drought phases, each affecting 65 to 91 percent of the valley, with one lasting over 85 years.
The final drought wave, lasting about 113 years and beginning around 3,530 years ago, coincided with the collapse of major urban centers of the Indus Valley civilization, suggesting that inhabitants migrated to more hospitable areas within the Indian subcontinent.
The Indus Valley civilization, one of the world's earliest and most important civilizations alongside ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, emerged around 5,000 years ago along the banks of the Indus River, spanning present-day India and Pakistan. It reached its zenith between 2200 and 1900 BC before entering a rapid decline that culminated in its disappearance, a mystery that this study helps to clarify.
Published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, the research indicates that between 3,400 and 4,400 years ago, the tributaries of the Indus River experienced significant reductions in flow or ceased altogether, coinciding with a marked decline in rainfall and a gradual rise in temperatures.
The study's authors integrated paleoclimate data derived from isotopic analysis of cave stalagmites in the Sahyadri and Maumlu regions of India, along with advanced climate simulations, to create a comprehensive model of weather patterns during this critical period for the civilization.
Professor Balaghi Rajagopalan from the University of Colorado, who led the research, noted that previous limitations in climatic data had obscured the reasons behind the decline of the Indus Valley civilization. This study allowed for the aggregation and analysis of various indicators, revealing a consistent pattern of prolonged and severe droughts.
The findings showed that rainfall decreased by 10 to 20 percent, while average temperatures rose by approximately half a degree Celsius, attributed to weakened monsoon winds. The study identified four significant drought phases, each affecting 65 to 91 percent of the valley, with one lasting over 85 years.
The final drought wave, lasting about 113 years and beginning around 3,530 years ago, coincided with the collapse of major urban centers of the Indus Valley civilization, suggesting that inhabitants migrated to more hospitable areas within the Indian subcontinent.
The Indus Valley civilization, one of the world's earliest and most important civilizations alongside ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, emerged around 5,000 years ago along the banks of the Indus River, spanning present-day India and Pakistan. It reached its zenith between 2200 and 1900 BC before entering a rapid decline that culminated in its disappearance, a mystery that this study helps to clarify.
