John Marshall, the then-Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), announced the discovery of “Civilisation of the Indus Valley” on September 20, 1924.

• Two ASI archaeologists were instrumental in the discovery: Daya Ram Sahni (ASI’s first Indian Director-General) and Rakhal Das Banerji, who excavated Harappa and Mohenjodaro respectively.

About Harappan Civilization

• It spans across 2,000 sites in India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Most of the sites are found located between the Indus and the Saraswati River basins.
  • Five major cities: Rakhigarhi, Mohenjodaro, Harappa, Dholavira and Ganweriwala.
• Extent of Civilization: Daimabad in Maharashtra (Southernmost), Alamgirpur in UP (Easternmost), Sutgakendor in Pakistan (Westernmost), and Manda in Jammu (Northernmost).
• Classification: Early phase (6000 BCE-2600 BCE), the mature period (2600 BCE to 1900 BCE), and the late phase (1900 BCE-1300 BCE).

New Evidences for Harappan Civilization

• New Archaeological excavation reveals 5,200-year-old Harappan settlement at Padta Bet in Kachchh, Gujarat.
• DNA analysis of skeletons from Rakhigarhi revealed that DNA of the Harappans has continued till today and a majority of South Asian population appear to be their descendants. 
  • Due to trade and cultural contacts of the Harappans with distant regions, there is a mixture of genes in small quantities.