FOR our syncretic heritage, winter is a season of hope — excavation is in full swing, and new wonders from the past emerge to captivate the world. Mohenjo Daro had a few surprises last month. Experts discovered a wealth of pottery fragments, and an immaculate mud brick rampart near the Great Bath on the western side of the stupa. First identified in 1950 and 1951 by British archaeologist Sir Mortimer Wheeler, fresh evidence from the bottom layers grades it as the city’s primary protective wall. The purpose of ‘the great wall’ was perhaps to regulate trade, monitor movement, and create an administrative structure. Excavation will extend to all sides to unearth the full structure around the ancient site. Dr Mark Kenoyer, who has been hard at work to retrieve the fortification wall, said that, in earlier times, a large cavity was left incomplete at the spot as an ‘embankment’.

The new marvel also had main entry points where people paid taxes to pass through, which added to the settlement’s revenue. The Indus Valley Civilisation, a 5,000-year-old enigma to tourists and historians, stands out as a model for modern living. Harappa’s sewage disposal systems, heavy bricks for residential construction, and Mohenjo Daro’s drainage system — all serve as a masterclass in sophisticated infrastructure and urban planning. Without signs of conflict and conquest, might and magnificence, the antiquity is defined by a simple, durable design that provides comfort to denizens. Hygiene appears as a prominent element of its culture. Authorities should recognise the lessons embedded in this landscape, and note that lasting prosperity means the well-being of citizens and cities. Heritage can play a pivotal role in endorsing a tolerant Pakistan. The least we can do is to ensure that our precious inheritance lives on with state-of-the-art tourism facilities. It preserves humanity, and inculcates inclusivity — a vital heirloom for future generations.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2026