Who questioned the evidence of a massacre in Mohenjodaro ( as proposed by R.E.M. Wheeler, the Director-General of the ASI in 1947), in the 1960s?

George Dales

Deadman Lane, a narrow alley ranging from 3 to 6 feet in width, acquired its name due to the discovery of human remains in the area. Part of an adult skull, bones of the thorax and upper arm, and fragments of a tiny skull were found in fragile condition at a depth of 4 ft 2 in. The body was positioned diagonally across the lane. In 1925, sixteen skeletons were unearthed in the same vicinity, still adorned with their ornaments at the time of their death.

In 1947, R.E.M. Wheeler, the Director-General of the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India), attempted to connect this archaeological evidence with the Rigveda, the oldest known text in the subcontinent. He suggested that the Rigveda's mention of "pur," meaning rampart, fort, or stronghold, and the reference to Indra as the "fort-destroyer" might align with the fortified structures discovered in Harappa. Wheeler proposed that deliberate and large-scale destruction, potentially related to a massacre, led to the ultimate demise of the Harappan civilization.

However, in the 1960s, archaeologist George Dales challenged the interpretation of a massacre at Mohenjodaro. He argued that the skeletal remains found at the site did not belong to the same period. While some skeletons suggested signs of violence, the majority were found in burial contexts lacking evidence of extensive destruction or defensive measures.

This demonstrates the significance of re-evaluating data, as Dales' re-examination led to a reversal of earlier interpretations, questioning the occurrence of a mythical massacre at Mohenjodaro.