ASI transfers ‘Rakhigarhi’ skeletons to Anthropological Survey of India for further research

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 (AnSI), a national research institute under the Ministry of Culture, for detailed scientific investigation.

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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”, Professor B.V. Sharma, Director of AnSI, said.

Rakhigarhi, spread across approximately 550 hectares in Haryana, is widely recognised as the largest known settlement of the Harappan 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.

The Mound 7 at the excavation site has been identified as a burial plot where 56 skeletons were recovered, including that of a woman roughly 4,600 years old, which created a buzz in the fields of history, anthropology, genomics and even linguistics. DNA analysis of the skeleton revealed that the Rakhigarhi woman did not possess the Steppe Pastoral gene, fanning the debate on Aryan migration to India. The word “Aryan” has been interchangeably used for the Steppe Pastoralists for many years, though to avoid racial connotations, many scholars now prefer to use the term “Indo-Aryan” for this group of people.

Three complete human skeletons among those recovered from Mound 7, along with skeletal fragments recovered from other burials, have now been transferred to the AnSI’s ancient human skeletal repository and laboratory in Kolkata for detailed examination. The remaining skeletal materials obtained at these sites are also expected to be transferred in a few days, the Union Culture Ministry said in a statement on Monday (June 22).

Researchers believe the remains present a rare opportunity to apply modern scientific techniques, including ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis, stable isotope studies, osteological assessments, palaeopathological investigations, and environmental reconstruction, the culture ministry statement added.

These approaches are expected to provide valuable insights into ancestry, migration patterns, diet, disease prevalence, adaptation strategies, and human-environment interactions during the Harappan period. According to the AnSI, the research will be conducted in collaboration with leading scientific institutions, including the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow, University College London (UCL), and a team of scholars from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) specialising in ancient DNA research.

The AnSI has recently completed palaeopathological studies on skeletal remains from several Harappan 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 organisations such as the Zoological Survey of India, Botanical Survey of India, Geological Survey of India, and research groups working on palaeo-climate, officials added.