The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has formally transferred human skeletal remains excavated from the Rakhigarhi archaeological site in Haryana to the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) for detailed scientific investigation. The transfer was conducted under a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions and is expected to significantly advance multidisciplinary research into one of the most important urban centers of the Indus-Saraswati Civilization.
Rakhigarhi, spread across approximately 550 hectares in Haryana, is recognized as the largest known settlement of the Indus-Saraswati Civilization. During excavations conducted by ASI's Excavation Branch-II, Greater Noida, in the 2025–26 field season, archaeologists uncovered eight burials at Mound No. 7, an area previously identified as a cemetery. Three complete human skeletons, along with skeletal fragments recovered from other burials, have been transferred to AnSI's ancient human skeletal repository and laboratory in Kolkata for detailed examination. The remaining skeletal materials are expected to be transferred in the coming days.
The research will employ modern scientific techniques including ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis, stable isotope studies, osteological assessments, palaeopathological investigations, and environmental reconstruction. These approaches are expected to provide insights into ancestry, migration patterns, diet, disease prevalence, adaptation strategies, and human-environment interactions during the Harappan period around 3000 BCE.
AnSI is conducting the research in collaboration with leading scientific institutions including the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) in Lucknow, University College London (UCL), and a team of scholars from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) specializing in ancient DNA research. The collaboration aims to reconstruct the genomic history of the Harappan Civilization while training a new generation of Indian scientists in palaeogenomics.
Several scholars welcomed the initiative, with Professor Vijay Prakash describing it as an important step toward ensuring biological heritage is scientifically analyzed and preserved. Professor Udai Pratap Singh noted that AnSI's expertise in human biology and osteology positions it well to reconstruct aspects of population history, health, lifestyle, and cultural adaptation.
AnSI has recently completed palaeopathological studies on skeletal remains from several Indus-Saraswati sites and is preparing scientific publications based on its findings. The institution plans to expand collaborations with organizations such as the Zoological Survey of India, Botanical Survey of India, Geological Survey of India, and research groups working on palaeoclimate.