ASI is transferring the ‘Rakhigarhi’ skeletons to the Anthropological Survey of India for further research
A file photo of the Archaeological Survey of India’s RGR 7 excavation site, where 60 skeletons were found in previous excavations, at Rakhigarhi in Hisar district, May 7, 2022. Two adult skeletons were recently found at the RGR 7 site, belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization. | Photo credit: PTI
Human skeletal remains excavated from the Rakhigarhi archaeological site in Haryana have been formally handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI), a national research institute under the Ministry of Culture, for detailed scientific examination.
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The transfer, made on the basis of a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions, is expected to significantly advance multidisciplinary research on one of the most important urban centers of the “Indus-Saraswati Civilization”, said Professor BV Sharma, Director of AnSI.
Spread over approximately 550 hectares in Haryana, Rakhigarhi is widely recognized as the largest known settlement of the Harappan civilization. Archaeological excavations have revealed evidence of continuous settlement from the Early Harappan period to the Mature Harappan period, including planned settlements, drainage systems, craft production centers, trade networks, and burial sites.
Mound 7 at the excavation site was identified as a burial site where 56 skeletons were found, including that of a woman roughly 4,600 years old, causing a stir in the fields of history, anthropology, genomics and even linguistics. DNA analysis of the skeleton revealed that the Rakhigarhi woman did not have the steppe pastoralist gene, fueling the debate about Aryan migration to India. The word “Aryan” has been used interchangeably for steppe pastoralists for many years, although to avoid racial connotations many scholars now prefer the term “Indo-Aryan” for this group of people.
Three complete human skeletons among those recovered from Mound 7, along with skeletal fragments recovered from other burials, have now been transferred to the AnSI’s Ancient Human Skeleton Repository and Laboratory in Calcutta for detailed examination. The remaining skeletal materials recovered from the sites are also expected to be transported within a few days, the Union Ministry of Culture said in a statement on Monday (June 22).
Scientists believe the remains present a rare opportunity to use modern scientific techniques, including ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis, stable isotope studies, osteological assessments, paleopathological research and environmental reconstruction, the culture ministry statement added.
These approaches are expected to provide valuable insights into origins, migration patterns, diet, disease prevalence, adaptation strategies and human-environment interactions during the Harappan period. According to AnSI, the research will be carried out in collaboration with leading scientific institutions, including the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow, University College London (UCL) and a team of scientists from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) who specialize in ancient DNA research.
AnSI has recently completed paleopathological studies of skeletal remains from several Harappan sites and is preparing scientific publications based on its findings. The transfer of the Rakhigarhi remains is expected to further enhance research capacity, particularly in the area of ancient DNA analysis. The institution also plans to expand collaboration with organizations such as Zoological Survey of India, Botanical Survey of India, Geological Survey of India and research groups working on paleoclimate, officials added.
Published – 22 Jun 2026 22:25 IST