1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,000 The earliest planned city, archaeological ruins at Mohenjo-Daro. 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:10,000 The great Indus River runs from the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea. 3 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:15,000 The Indus civilization, regarded as one of the four greatest ancient civilizations, 4 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:19,000 was founded around 2500 BC. 5 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:24,000 This is the archaeological site of Mohenjo-Daro in southern Pakistan. 6 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:30,000 Along with Harappa, located upstream, this was the heartland of the Indus civilization. 7 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:37,000 The remains of an ancient city predating Buddhist history was discovered by chance in 1922, 8 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:41,000 during the excavation of a partly revealed stupa. 9 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:53,000 After careful excavation, it was revealed that this archaeological site was a wonderfully planned ancient city. 10 00:00:53,000 --> 00:01:00,000 Streets crossed at right angles and a network of narrow streets spread across the residential district. 11 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:06,000 Water provision is one of the outstanding features of Indus civilization. 12 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:09,000 This used to be a well. 13 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:16,000 The holes in the second floor walls were believed to have been used for waste disposal and drainage. 14 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:21,000 The city had a complete water supply and sewage system. 15 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:26,000 Sewage channels are arranged in line with the roads. 16 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,000 Seals have also been found on this site. 17 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:39,000 It is believed they were used to wrap and mark items to be traded with distant Mesopotamia. 18 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:45,000 Mohenjo-Daro's prosperity was founded on rich soil and flood water, 19 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:49,000 however water is now the greatest threat to the site. 20 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:55,000 Salt erosion is causing damage. Salt water rises to the surface and onto the bricks. 21 00:01:56,000 --> 00:02:00,000 Strong sunshine crystallizes the salt and the bricks crumble. 22 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:07,000 The Pakistan government started restoration of the bricks with support from UNESCO in 1972. 23 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:16,000 Underground water is pumped out and diverted away from the site to lower the water table. 24 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:24,000 Despite this, the water level still remains high and the site is still under threat. 25 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:34,000 For the site at Mohenjo-Daro, the battle against water continues from the time of the ancient Indus civilization.