History of Indian Archaeology

Who discovered the Indus Valley Civilization? | Sahni & Banerjee

The two Indian archaeologists associated with the discovery of the Indus Valley Civilization are Dayaram Sahni (Harappa) and Rakhal Das Banerjee (Mohenjo-Daro).

Primary Reference: NCERT Class 12 - Themes in Indian History Part I

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Two Indians who were associated with discovery of Indus Valley Civilization, are:

[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. Prelims 2003]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept


The breakthrough in Indian archaeology came in the 1920s when local archaeologists identified urban ruins that predated the historical period.

Authentic Source Evidence

Dayaram Sahni supervised the excavation of Harappa in 1921. Rakhal Das (R.D.) Banerjee discovered Mohenjo-Daro in 1922 while looking for Buddhist ruins.

Analytical Breakdown


  • Logic 1: Both were working under the direction of the ASI Director-General, Sir John Marshall (Option B), but the question specifically asks for the two Indians.

  • Logic 2: Their discoveries pushed the known history of India back by 2,000 years.
  • Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

    "Who was the Director-General of ASI when the Indus Valley was discovered?"

    Sir John Marshall was the Director-General who officially announced the discovery to the world in 1924.

    Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

    "The identification of these sites by Indian scholars under colonial administration laid the foundation for the scientific study of ancient South Asian urbanization."

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