Ganweriwala May Have Rivaled Harappa in Urban Scale

Ganweriwala, a largely unexcavated Harappan site in Pakistan, covers an area comparable to the largest Indus cities.

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Ganweriwala is often described as one of the five largest known Harappan cities despite minimal excavation.

Ganweriwala is located in the Cholistan Desert of Pakistan and is considered one of the major Harappan urban centers. Surface surveys indicate a large settlement footprint dating to the Mature Harappan period. Despite its size, the site remains minimally excavated. Pottery fragments and structural remnants suggest organized urban layout. Its scale implies regional importance within the Indus network. The absence of large-scale excavation leaves many questions unanswered. Remote sensing has helped estimate site boundaries. Ganweriwala demonstrates that major cities extended beyond well-known sites. Archaeological silence conceals scale.

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Institutionally, Ganweriwala’s size suggests distributed urban authority rather than centralized dominance by a single city. Multiple large centers indicate complex regional organization. Lack of excavation limits clarity on governance structures. Preservation challenges affect research access. Potential discoveries may reshape understanding of Harappan political geography. Unexplored cities expand interpretive possibilities. Scale remains partially hidden.

For ancient inhabitants, Ganweriwala likely functioned as a bustling urban node. Craftspeople, merchants, and administrators shared space within its boundaries. Today, windblown sands cover what once were streets and workshops. The site’s obscurity contrasts with its probable historical significance. Residents who shaped its past left limited textual traces. Archaeology awaits excavation. Silence guards magnitude.

Source

Encyclopaedia Britannica - Indus civilization

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