Human skeletal remains from Rakhigarhi transferred to ASI

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Human skeletal remains excavated from the archaeological site of Rakhigarhi in Haryana have been formally handed over by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to the Anthropological Survey of India (ASI), a national research institute of repute under Ministry of Culture, Government of India, for detailed scientific investigation.

Prof. BV Sharma, Director of ASI said the transfer, carried out under a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions, is expected to significantly advance multidisciplinary research into one of the most important urban centres of the Indus-Saraswati Civilization.

Rakhigarhi, spread across approximately 550 hectares in Haryana, is widely recognized as the largest known settlement of the Indus-Saraswati Civilization. Archaeological excavations have revealed evidence of continuous habitation from the Early Harappan to the Mature Harappan periods, including planned settlements, drainage systems, craft production centres, trade networks, and burial grounds.

During excavations conducted by ASI’s Excavation Branch-II, Greater Noida, in the 2025–26 field season, archaeologists uncovered eight burials at Mound No. 7, an area previously identified as a cemetery. Three complete human skeletons, along with skeletal fragments recovered from other burials, have now been transferred to ASI’s ancient human skeletal repository and laboratory in Kolkata for detailed examination.

Professor Vijay Prakash, former faculty member of Andhra University, described the transfer as an important step toward ensuring that biological heritage recovered through archaeological excavations is scientifically analyzed and preserved by national institutions for the benefit of future generations.Professor Udai Pratap Singh of Lucknow University similarly said the transfer marks an important milestone in strengthening India’s palaeoanthropological research tradition. He noted that AnSI’s expertise in human biology and osteology places it in a strong position to reconstruct aspects of population history, health, lifestyle, and cultural adaptation in the Indus Valley Civilization.

Officials noted that while ASI has maintained a long tradition of osteological research on remains recovered from Indus-Saraswati sites since its establishment in 1945, activities in this field had diminished over the years due to various challenges. In recent years, however, the institution has undertaken efforts to revive palaeoanthropological research through the formation of dedicated research teams and specialized training programmes for scientific personnel.

ASI has recently completed palaeopathological studies on skeletal remains from several Indus-Saraswati sites and is preparing scientific publications based on its findings. The transfer of the Rakhigarhi remains is expected to further strengthen research capabilities, particularly in the field of ancient DNA analysis. The institution also plans to expand collaborations with organizations such as the Zoological Survey of India, Botanical Survey of India, Geological Survey of India, and research groups working in palaeoclimate and population genetics.

Welcoming the initiative, Padma Shri awardee Dr. Kumaraswamy Thangaraj, Senior Scientist at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, said that applying ancient DNA technology to the Rakhigarhi remains could reveal critical information about their genetic history and help scientists understand how human genomes evolved, adapted, and underwent natural selection since around 3000 BCE.

Professor Gyaneshwer Chaubey of Banaras Hindu University described the collaboration as a major step forward in reconstructing the genomic history of the Harappan Civilization. He noted that integrating ancient DNA research with osteological and isotopic studies would provide important evidence regarding ancestry, health, mobility, and lifestyles of the Indus Valley population, while also helping train a new generation of Indian scientists in palaeogenomics.

Former National Monument Authority Chairman Professor Kishore K. Basa welcomed the revival of skeletal biological research within AnSI, noting that such studies have relevance not only for anthropology but also for history, archaeology, population studies, nutrition, disease history, and genetics. The findings from the Rakhigarhi remains are expected to contribute substantially to understanding the origins, health, mobility, and biological history of one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations.