Moen Jo Daro excavation: ‘Site undergoing maintenance to attract archaeologists’

Kaleemullah Lashari explains why heritage sites need basic facilities

KARACHI: Many thought-provoking assertions have come to the forefront since a team of experts started the excavation of Moen Jo Daro on Sunday.

Culture secretary Akbar Leghari explained that the excavation was essential to place a water tank at the site. “However, to further the process, we will engage another archaeologist,” he explained.

The news was also met with skepticism from some people. Speaking on the issue, former archaeology department director-general Qasim Ali Qasim remarked, “What is the purpose of digging [up] a place that has already been excavated? What are they trying to achieve?”

He added, “[The experts] are currently digging the core areas of Moen Jo Daro. Why not the buffer zone? Setting up a water tank [at the site] is not the right thing to do”.



However, archaeologist Kaleemullah Lashari said, “The site maintenance work hadn’t been done in years and the underground water tank [at the site] was not being used”. He also explained that though the site includes a museum and a curator room, neither a guest room nor a rest house was the need of the hour. This will allow foreign archaeologists to come and explore the world heritage site, he said.

The quarters inhabiting this site were made in the 1960s, but they are now in a pitiful state and are being demolished to set up a new functioning building in its place. Besides this, the water tank is being repaired and trial trenches are being set up in the area, Lashari said.

“Currently, archeological assessment is going on under the supervision of the current director, which will reveal the real situation of the place.” The project is being handled by deputy-director of archaeology Naheed Zehra, who ‘has no straight command over the subject’, revealed a source requesting anonymity.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2016.