Mound of the Dead (Moen-Jo-Daro)

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Pakistan is also one of the countries where ancient town have been found. Mound of the dead is called Moen-Jo-Daro in Sindhi which is a local language of Pakistan. The Moen-Jo-Daro is one of the oldest cities in the world. There few people live now, but four thousand and five hundred years ago, it was a large, busy town. Nobody knew about it until 1922, when some villages found some pieces of smooth old pots and old bricks at the place, where now stands an uncovered town. 

Sir John Marshall who was an English civil servant His work was it to look after historical remains like ancient building and other old things such as these pieces of pots and old bricks found by villagers. These things were brought to sir john. He was himself interested in history and was anxious to find out about these remains. He looked at them carefully and he at once knew that the pieces of pots are very old. And about old bricks, he said “there was once an old town. Let us dig here may be we shall found the remains of this town.

 In the result of their digging, such remains started coming up, till there appeared a city of straight road and well-build houses. Houses were made of baked bricks and had bathrooms and servant-quarters close by. Covered drains ran beside the streets. Even streets were made of baked bricks. There is a great hall where grain was storied. Carts and other forms to transport could come right to the center of the city. There was a wide road in the middle of which was a shopping center with shops on both sides. This road continues on to the houses of workmen.

 People of this city must have been great traders, with the river Indus so near and the sea within easy reach. Country-side must have been fertile since wheat, rice and cotton grew there. Farmers kept cattle. There were craftsmen who worked in gold silver and ivory. Clay dolls and carts were made for children to play with. We have an idea of dresses worn by ruling class, priests and elders from seals of many kinds have been found there.They wore long, loose dresses. 

There is a museum nearby, interesting objects fond form Moen-Jo-Daro, are on exhibition. These include jewelry, weapons, seals,toy and painted pottery. But the best find of Moen-Jo-Daro is a head of bull which was used as a seal. A statue of dancing girl and other metal tools have also been found there. It is because of these metal objects, the probable age of city is being given as about four thousand and five hundred years. 

People of this city lived a happy life, and traveled from place to place on business or on pleasure. No one knew what happed to them. Either they were raided form the north or some great earthquake destroyed them. No one has yet been able to determine the meaning of these words written on the seals and on the pottery. Much could be learnt if language experts are able to decipher these words.

Learned men and visitor come to the site. They come not only from Pakistan, but also all over the world. Their efforts will succeed in deciphering these words, and then we will know a great deal more than we do now about this dead civilization.