THEORIES OF DECUNE Flood and Earthquake (R.L Raikes)

THEORIES OF DECUNE Flood and Earthquake (R.L Raikes)

Evidence of Flood (a) Occupation levels divided by silt
deposits. . .
(b) Houses and Streets covered by silt deposits up to 30
ft above ground level.
(c) Houses built on silt covered debris.
Evidence of Earthquake (a) Indus area is a disturbed
earthquake zone
(b) Earthquake raised the level of flood plains blocking
passage of river water to sea, forcing water into cities.
(c) Earthquake caused shift of land away from sea coast affecting commercial cities.
. Criticism (a) Decline of settlements outside Indus Valley
will not be explained by this theory. '
(b) A river cannot be dammed by tectonic effects.
Mohenjo-daro destroyed by Shifting of River Indus (Lambrick)
Evidence. Silt is there in Harappa because of wind action
which brought sand and silt. Sand silt not due to floods.
Criticism This explains only the desertion of Mohenjodaro
but not its decline.
Increased aridity led to decline (D.P. Agarwal and Sood)
Evidence (a) Middle of second millennium Be, a period of
increased arid conditions.
(b) In such a situation a semi-arid region (like Harappa)
would be affected most-decline of agriculture would result.
(c) Tectonic movement would affect river system like
Ghopar which would dry up.
Criticism (a) Not fully worked out.
(b) Drying up of River Ghaggar not dated yet.
Barbarian or Aryan invasions destroyed Harappa (Sir Mortimer Wheeler)
Evidence (a) Human skeletons have been found lying on
the streets.
(b) Rig Veda refers to fortresses of 'dasas' which god
Purandara destroys.
(c) The geographical area of Rig Vedic Aryans includes
Punjab Ghaggar region.
(d) Vedas mention a. place called Hariyapiya (name similar
to Harappa) on River Ravi where Aryans fought a battle.
Criticism Decline of Harappa around 1800 Be whereas Aryans not earlier than 1500 Be. So Harappans and Aryans clash seems difficult to accept.