Archaeologists are collaborating with Sanskrit scholars to decipher Rigveda text.
The Rigveda or Rig Veda is an ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns.
Aim is to find a connection between the Harappan civilization and the people of the Vedic age.
Evidence for Connection:
Archaeological finds at Harappan settlements (Rakhigarhi, Banawali, Kalibanga, Dholavira) show similarities to descriptions in Rigveda texts (e.g., ritual platforms, fire altars, fire worship)
NCERT textbook mentions DNA evidence from a 4,600-year-old Harappan woman suggesting an indigenous population.
Current debate on the origin of the Vedas: 2,000 BC - 1,500 BC vs. 2,500 BC (4,500 years ago).
The later date aligns with the age of the Harappan woman's remains.
Points of Connection:
Saraswati River: Frequent mention in Rigveda texts (71 times) aligns with the location of many Harappan settlements along its banks (⅔ of all known settlements).
Animal Bones: Debate about bones found in Surkotada, Gujarat:
Hungarian researchers suggest domesticated horses (mentioned in Rigveda).
Harvard researchers suggest wild asses (horses arrived later according to some scholars).
Harappan terracotta figurines of horse-like animals found at Lothal and Mohenjo-daro.
Against Aryan Migration Theory:
NCERT revisions reject large-scale Aryan immigration from Europe/Central Asia.
Genetic analysis of modern South Asians shows similarities to the Harappan woman, suggesting an indigenous population.
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