Ganveri wala|ganveri wala in cholistan desert|ganveriwala|Ganveriwala historical palace|

Ganveri wala Indus Valley was originally rediscovered in the Cholistan desert by Sir Aurel Stein in 1941. The area was again explored by Henry Field in 1955. Finally, Ganweriwala was discovered when Mohammad Rafique Mughal surveyed the area in the 1970s and rediscovered 174 Mature Harrapan sites along the Hakra riverbed. Ganweriwala was the most significant site due to its size.Mughal estimated it to be similar to that of Mohenjo-daro and Harrappa, the two capital cities of the Indus Valley Civilisation. Ganweriwala was surveyed for the first time in 2007 when the Government of Pakistan's Department of Archaeology and Museums issued a license to Punjab University's Department of Archaeology. The survey began by establishing a systematic grid of the site in order to map Ganweriwala, and to aid future excavations of the site.The site is made up of two mounds, Mound A is located further east and Mound B, the larger of the two, is located in the west of the site. A main street acted as the central passage for transportation and movement of goods for both parts of the town. These features suggest that Ganweriwala follows the grid plan typical to the Indus Civilisation. Whilst Mughal initially estimated that Ganweriwala covered 81.5 hectares measurements from the Punjab University team estimated the site to be only 42 hectares. It was hypothesised that the remaining 39 hectares that Mughal reported may have been covered by sand dunes, and that they could be uncovered with further excavation work. The Cholistan desert has changed dramatically over the past decades. However, both these measurements were based on traditional measuring techniques which are inaccurate.  It is believed that this may explain the disparity in measurements. In 2008 Masih estimated the site to measure 64 ha, and finally a 2021 survey using more advanced measurement systems, created a contour map showing the Ganweriwala site to be 66.7 ha. Therefore the most recent estimate is considered the most accurate but excavation is needed to confirm the size. Any future excavations of Ganweriwala face challenges as the area continues to be developed for agricultural use. The area is also subjected to military operations, private hunting parties and treasure hunters, which may damage the site. The survey by Punjab University noted that a 4-metre-wide road had been constructed through the middle of the Ganweriwala site for hunting parties from the UAE. Though this is unfortunate for the damage it may have caused the site it did provide ready-made sections across the upper sections of the mounds which allowed the team to examine the site further. Despite these issues, it is believed that the majority of the Ganweriwala site may have been preserved by the sand dunes under which it now exists. No scientific excavations have been done on the site, but through surveying, mapping and collecting surface artefacts, several important finds have been made at Ganweriwala.A 90 cm wide mud-brick wall was found running south- north across Mound A. Carbon samples were able to date the upper levels of the site to around the Harappa Period 3C approximately 2300 to 1900 BC.  The contours of the site are hypothesised to be house blocks with streets running between them. The layout is similar to other Harappan settlements, though proper scientific excavation methods are needed to confirm these hypotheses. Surface finds were collected and examined. They include ceramics both painted and plain, copper tools, stone tools, fired bricks, wedge shaped bricks, steatite disc beads, and agate beads.Notable finds include unicorn figurines, a copper seal, and an impressed clay tablet. |Ganveri wala|ganveri wala in cholistan desert|ganveriwala|Ganveri wala historical palace|