The Indus Valley Civilization is the oldest civilization on the Indian Subcontinent, or more or less one of the oldest civilizations in the world. This civilization is in the news again due to the discovery of a pot full of copper coins.
The copper coins were unearthed at the Mohenjo Daro site from a stupa during the conservation effort in Pakistan’s Sindh province. The stupa is a dome-shaped building structure that was erected during the first century BC. As per archeologists, the said copper coins belong to the Kushan Empire and of around 2000 years old.
It is pertinent to note that this is not the first time that copper coins have been found in the Indus Valley civilization. In the 1920s, copper coins were first discovered. There are some notable sites of Indus Valley civilization in the below MAP.
Brief introduction to Mohenjo Daro.
Mohenjo Daro is one of the sites of the Indus Valley Civilization and is currently located in the political territory of Pakistan. Mohenjo Daro, meaning “Mound of the Dead,” flourished between 2600 and 1900 BCE and was built entirely of unbaked brick.
This city belongs to the mature Indus Valley civilization. The site was discovered in the 1920s. The excavations at Mohenjo Daro unearthed many evidences that showed the living standards, level of modernity, and advancement of the Indus Valley civilization. The archaeological ruins, not only at Moenjodaro but also at many other places of Indus Valley civilization, are the best preserved urban settlements in South Asia. The acropolis, the ramparts, set on high embankments, and the lower town provide evidence of an early system of town planning. A strict rule was followed while the town planned and executed the plan.
Features of the newly found Copper Coins:
The copper coins were found in the stupa, which is a Buddhist shrine. The Buddhist Shrine was built on the top of the deserted ruins of Mohenjo-Daro after its decline ~1,600 years later.
The newfound coins are turned green as copper corrodes when exposed to air. Centuries of corrosion have also fused the coins into a lump that weighs about 12 pounds (5.5 kilograms).