Varanasi could be as old as Indus Valley civilization

Source

The researchers have dug 100-metre-deep boring holes all over Varanasi to conclude that there is evidence of continuous settlement at least till 2000BC. There are enough indications that by the time the data collection is over, there would be enough to prove that this date can be pushed back to about 4500BC.

-A detailed study conducted by IIT-Kharagpur - using GPS, one of the latest tech tools - could well turn the clock back on Varanasi, indicating that the holy town has been a continuous human settlement since the days of the Indus Valley Civilization, around 6000 years ago.The project, funded by the Union ministry of human resources development (it has released Rs 20 crore just for the first phase), has even attracted the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

-The results that have come from a detailed geo-exploration (exploration conducted through GPS technology) conducted by seven IIT-Kgp departments, tracing the different stages through which civilization progressed, and how Varanasi has been able to maintain continuity as a living civilization, unlike comparable seats of human settlement in the world.

-What's more, the seven departments of IIT Kgp, that are working on the project, are tracing the different stages through which the civilisation has progressed and has yet been able to maintain its continuity as a living civilisation, unlike comparable ancient civilisations around the world.The project, which is completely funded by the union ministry of human resources development, has attracted the attention of none less than Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who made it a point to explore its progress on Sunday at Varanasi, when he met the IIT Kgp faculty members and inquired about the possibilities and the scope of the project.The results that have come from a detailed geo exploration through the GPS conducted through 100 metre deep bore holes all over Varanasi shows continuous settlement history till 2000 BC.

-The indicators are that at the end of data collection, this will be put back another '1500 years to establish the final habitable antiquity of Varanasi at 4500 BC.The geo-exploration, that is being conducted jointly with the British Geological Survey, has already established the existence of Naimisharanya, a forest that finds mention in the Vedas and in the Kashipurana.

Does this mean Varanasi was in some way part of the Indus valley civilization ? Was Varanasi another one of those settlements which was separate from the IVC or was it a civilization in itself. Because if it is a civilization which existed separately from the IVC, then this could be a rather huge finding..

a reply to: maddy21
The article assumes that readers will know where Varanasi is.
I see that it's on the Ganges, making the question of priority vis-a-vis the Indus even more interesting.

a reply to: DISRAELI

I added the location into my OP

a reply to: maddy21

Great find! Thank you gor the article. In answer to your question as to it being a separate culture or part of the IVC, I think I will have to break out some books, but as I recall there were many concurrent kingdoms throughout that region and history, I think they shared theology, but again I need to get home and off my phone. The Vedas seems a good start. Thanks again

originally posted by: maddy21

Source

The researchers have dug 100-metre-deep boring holes all over Varanasi to conclude that there is evidence of continuous settlement at least till 2000BC. There are enough indications that by the time the data collection is over, there would be enough to prove that this date can be pushed back to about 4500BC.

-A detailed study conducted by IIT-Kharagpur - using GPS, one of the latest tech tools - could well turn the clock back on Varanasi, indicating that the holy town has been a continuous human settlement since the days of the Indus Valley Civilization, around 6000 years ago.The project, funded by the Union ministry of human resources development (it has released Rs 20 crore just for the first phase), has even attracted the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

-The results that have come from a detailed geo-exploration (exploration conducted through GPS technology) conducted by seven IIT-Kgp departments, tracing the different stages through which civilization progressed, and how Varanasi has been able to maintain continuity as a living civilization, unlike comparable seats of human settlement in the world.

-What's more, the seven departments of IIT Kgp, that are working on the project, are tracing the different stages through which the civilisation has progressed and has yet been able to maintain its continuity as a living civilisation, unlike comparable ancient civilisations around the world.The project, which is completely funded by the union ministry of human resources development, has attracted the attention of none less than Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who made it a point to explore its progress on Sunday at Varanasi, when he met the IIT Kgp faculty members and inquired about the possibilities and the scope of the project.The results that have come from a detailed geo exploration through the GPS conducted through 100 metre deep bore holes all over Varanasi shows continuous settlement history till 2000 BC.

-The indicators are that at the end of data collection, this will be put back another '1500 years to establish the final habitable antiquity of Varanasi at 4500 BC.The geo-exploration, that is being conducted jointly with the British Geological Survey, has already established the existence of Naimisharanya, a forest that finds mention in the Vedas and in the Kashipurana.

Does this mean Varanasi was in some way part of the Indus valley civilization ? Was Varanasi another one of those settlements which was separate from the IVC or was it a civilization in itself. Because if it is a civilization which existed separately from the IVC, then this could be a rather huge finding..

I've been there, and studied yoga there. It's one of the most ancient looking and feeling places I've been, up there with Egypt and Israel. It felt like a time portal.

I'm not sure how much this is news though. I was told there that it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. People always say it goes back to Vedic times.

originally posted by: Quetzalcoatl14
I've been there, and studied yoga there. It's one of the most ancient looking and feeling places I've been, up there with Egypt and Israel. It felt like a time portal.

I'm not sure how much this is news though. I was told there that it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. People always say it goes back to Vedic times.

I have been there as well, was an amazing experience. Kinda surreal to think that this city could be nearly 6000 years old.. if not older.

Interesting stuff. I am hoping to be able to visit India in the next few years. As a woman, a bit nervous to travel alone though.

I have always felt the civilization was much older than believed. This seema as if it were published in February. Any updates since then?

originally posted by: Galadriel
Interesting stuff. I am hoping to be able to visit India in the next few years. As a woman, a bit nervous to travel alone though.

I have always felt the civilization was much older than believed. This seema as if it were published in February. Any updates since then?

Ignore the media, things are often extremely biased against India/non western countries especially when it comes to western Media. People really aren't that bad, especially if you compare the crimes in percapita to developed western nations. If/When you are coming here, wear Indian cloths. Its far more comfortable and you are less likely to stand out in the crowd.

a reply to: maddy21

Buddhists have always known it was a thriving city around 400 BCE because the city is mentioned many times in the Tipitaka (Pali Canon) and visited often by Gotama the Buddha. So if it was already established as a city in 400 BCE, 2000 BCE is not a stretch.

a reply to: Galadriel

a reply to: maddy21

Actually there is definitely a concern if your a woman traveling alone. Not super-dangerous.. if your smart, and know how to handle yourself. Better if your traveling w others. Like any place there are your sketchy places/towns and situations. Just have to know how to avoid them.

a reply to: nOraKat

lol..i lived there for years...there is as much concern as there should be if you are anywhere else in the world, nothing special.

Varanasi, one of world's oldest living cities, is rightly called the religious capital of India. Also known as Banaras or Benaras, this holy city is located in the southeastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. It rests on the left bank of the holy river Ganga (Ganges), and is one of the seven sacred spots for Hindus. Every devout Hindu hopes to visit the city at least once in a lifetime, take a holy dip at the famous 'Ghats' of the Ganga, walk the pious Panchakosi road that bounds the city, and, if God wills, die here in old age.

a reply to: maddy21

Times of India is a tabloid. Always check their sources!

The material is suspicious -- it says that this was learned through GPS technology.

Now think of the GPS on your car or your phone, and stop and think -- "how can it determine how old something is?" The answer is that it can't. It can locate things for you on the surface of the Earth if you know where they are, but it can't say a thing EXCEPT how high it is from sea level (and it can be up to 15 feet off) or where on Earth it is.

a reply to: DISRAELI

You might know it better as Benares.

a reply to: Astyanax
Ah, thank you.
My mental map of the world was formed in the old days, containing names like Ceylon and Peking.