Mohenjodaro Museum

Terracotta Painted Pots and Plates from Mohenjodaro

The design of the Mohenjodaro Museum building prioritizes simplicity and functionality, with careful consideration of local wind patterns and climate.

Copper Axes, Stone Tools and implements showcased

Constructed to enhance natural ventilation, the ground floor is an open space with minimal structural elements, such as blank walls and supporting pillars, allowing wind to flow freely through the area. The Mohenjodaro Museum hosts an extensive collection of artifacts uncovered at the archaeological site, including figurines, pottery, tools, and other cultural items. Visitors can also explore a souvenir shop on the ground floor, where replicas of the seals, sculptures, and figures are available for purchase. The ticket counter for the museum is also located on the ground floor. The main museum is housed on the first floor, with the walls made of plain brick without decorative embellishments. Only the horizontal sections of the building, including the terrace, are constructed from concrete. A prominent relief of a Brahmani bull in white is also embossed on the museum's outer wall, immediately drawing attention as one approaches the structure.

The ground floor is designed to accommodate larger objects and is intentionally open to allow the free passage of air, ensuring a comfortable environment. The first floor, where the main galleries are located, showcases various artifacts from the Mohenjodaro archaeological site. Additionally, the building includes offices and other functional spaces that support the museum's operations. A notable feature of the museum at the first floor is the 30-foot by 10-foot mural at its entrance, a collaborative work between an Italian artist and an artist from the Department of Archaeology. The mural presents an imaginative view of ancient Mohenjodaro, offering visitors a visual interpretation of the ancient city.

Terracotta Painted Pottery from Mohenjodaro

Mr. Ali Hyder, a Heritage Conservator at the Archaeology Office in Mohenjodaro, descries in detail various showcases at the museum as described in his document, "A Visitor's Guide to the Museum of Mohenjodaro." The first three showcases in the museum display artifacts such as stone tools from the Soan Valley near Rawalpindi, as well as antiquities from the Rohri and Sukkur hills, Kot Diji, and Amri. These artifacts offer an overview of early human activity in the region.

Jewelry from Mohenjodaro

The first showcase is divided into two sections: the first displays a diorama depicting activities of early Stone Age humans alongside original stone tools estimated to be around 500,000 years old. The second section focuses on the Neolithic Age, displaying stone implements from the Sukkur and Rohri hills, dating back approximately 200,000 years. The second showcase features a representative collection of pottery from Kot Diji, accompanied by a diorama illustrating the archaeological site itself. The third showcase highlights the excavations at Amri, an important town of the Indus Valley Civilization, with select pottery pieces displayed alongside a diorama of the site. Amri, located between Mohenjodaro and Hyderabad, predates Mohenjodaro and may have been contemporary with Kot Diji.

Showcase four is dedicated to displaying chert blades, stone balls, and a few copper objects, including hand axes and a fish hook. These artifacts suggest that the inhabitants of Mohenjodaro used weapons such as axes, spears, daggers, and arrows. Showcases six through nine display a variety of pottery specimens, both plain and painted, unearthed in large quantities from Mohenjodaro. The pottery ranges from massive storage jars to small household utensils and cosmetic containers.

Unicorn Seal from Mohenjodaro

A larger room following these showcases houses enormous storage jars with thick textures, including a large terracotta tub, which may have been used for bathing children. Showcase ten contains terracotta figurines of the Mother Goddess, male and female stone heads, a stone ram, and replicas of two famous statues—the "Priest King" and the "Dancing Girl." It is worth noting that the original "Priest King" statue is housed in the National Museum of Pakistan in Karachi, while the original "Dancing Girl" is preserved at the National Museum in New Delhi, India. Showcase eleven features the seals, arguably the most distinctive objects found at Mohenjodaro. These square seals, adorned with animal figures and inscriptions, remain undeciphered but are believed to represent important aspects of the Indus Valley script and culture.

Through its comprehensive collection and thoughtful design, the museum offers a window into the ancient world of the Indus Valley Civilization and continues to play a crucial role in preserving and interpreting this significant archaeological heritage.