Early India and Pakistan to Ashoka c7.131

c7.131

The other factor is this. Millions of well-baked bricks went to the building and rebuilding of Mohenjo-daro. Millions of tons of firewood went to the baking of them. With all allowance for the arrival of floating timber from the upper reaches, this implies a widespread deforestation of the surrounding region. This in turn, though partially compensated by growing crops, must have checked the transpiration of moisture and reduced the rainfall. If at the same time energy and discipline were flagging, and irrigation-channels and bunds inadequately maintained, the total deterioration must have been appreciable. Desert was encroaching on the sown. In rough terms, Mohenjo-daro was wearing out its landscape, whether by excessive zeal or by excessive indolence. Over the years it was dying long before the final blow.