I hope Giosan et al would carefully evaluate evidence and arguments provided by Prof. Valdiya and revise their findings about Sarasvati river system..
On one issue, some evidence exists even today. The issue concerns upstream of the alluvial plains and alleged "lack of large-scale incisions' in the Ghagghar-Hakra"..
Ghagghar-Hakra stream is not far from Ropar where River Sutlej takes a 90 degree turn, a tell-tale indication of tectonics resulting in river migration, Sutlej migrating westwards to join the Sindhu (Indus).
Figure 10 (loc.cit. Valdiya). Block diagram by Sinha et al.42 shows the palaeochannels of the Saraswati – including the one abandoned by the Satluj – and the extent of fluvial sediments filling their channels.
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Explaining the palaeo-channels of Sutlej into Sarasvati River system.
One key issue not adequately evaluated by Giosan et al relates to the migration of River Sutlej which is a Himalayan river. This river was feeding into the Sarasvati River system. Giosan et al, looking into incisions? Here are some present-day images.
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Hill erosion near river Sutlej, Ropar. Ropar is the location where River Sutlej takes a 90 degree turn weswards to join the River Sindhu (Indus).
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Hill view near River Sutlej.
![The River of the Roaring Bull (bhatto) Tags: india river satluj rampurbushair satlujgorge]()
Rampur Bhushair Sutlej gorge. http://www.flickr.com/photos/63783963@N00/17386820 (Source: http://flickrhivemind.net/flickr_hvmnd.cgi?method=GET&page=1&photo_number=50&tag_mode=all&search_type=Tags&originput=river,satluj&sorting=Interestingness&photo_type=250&noform=t&search_domain=Tags&sort=Interestingness&textinput=river,satluj)
Giosan et al should visit the Ropar (Rupnagar) Archaeological Museum which celebrates Ropar as a 'Harappan' site. Why did the river Sutlej take 90 degree turn here? Where was it flowing, southwards before this 90 degree turn?
This museum at Ropar is a cute, beautiful museum. I would strongly urge all researchers of Sarasvati River basin and study of Hindu civilization history should visit this Museum and see the Indus script seals excavated from the site and kept there. The excavations were carried out by Dr. Y.D. Sharma of the Archaeological Survey of India."At Ropar excavations at the lowest levels yielded Harappan traits belonging to Period 1. Findings include a steatite seal with Indus scriptprobably used for trading goods, impressions of seals on a terracotta lump of burnt clay, chert blades, copper implements, terracotta beads and bangles and typical standardised pottery of the Indus Valley civilization. The earliest houses at Ropar were built with river pebbles available in abundance but soon they made use of cut slabs of lime with the same ratio of 4:2:1. Sun baked bricks were sometimes used in the foundations." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupnagar
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Ropar 1,Text 9021(One side of the tablet has two incised circles; the other side has three glyphs of Indus script).
The occurrence of this archaeological site at Ropar and its identification as an early Indus site (Period 1) has to be evaluated in the context of geo-hydraulics of the times. Is it not notable that there are no major site locations identified on the present-day banks of River Sutlej as it moves westward to join River Beas? Maybe, during the 'mature' phases of the civilization, the path of the river was NOT westward? It may be helpful if a comprehensive provenance study is carried out on this stretch of River Sutlej, of the type of study done on Luni river system by Bajpai et al (as mentioned by Prof. Valdiya).
| Museum - Ropar |
Archaeological Museum, Ropar (Punjab)
The Archaeological Museum is situated about 40 kms north east of Chandigarh on the Rupnagar – Chandigarh highway on the bank of sutlej river. It was opened to public in the year 1998.
Opened to public in the year 1998, the museum houses the archaeological remains of excavated site near Ropar, the first Harappan site excavated in Independent India. The excavation revealed a cultural sequence from Harappan to medieval times. Important exhibits include antiquities of Harappan times, Painted Grey ware culture, Saka, Kushana, Gupta times such as Vina Vadini (lady playing on vina), steatite seal, copper and bronze implements, ring stone, yakshi image, gold coins of Chandragupta. Besides, the visitors can have a glimpse of important protected monuments of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and World Heritage monuments.
Timings of visit: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.
Closed on - Friday
Entrance Fee: Rs. 2.00
(Children up to 15 years free) http://asi.nic.in/asi_museums_ropar.asp |
Explaining the palaeo-channels of Sutlej into Sarasvati River system.
Hill erosion near river Sutlej, Ropar. Ropar is the location where River Sutlej takes a 90 degree turn weswards to join the River Sindhu (Indus). 
Hill view near River Sutlej. 
A canal carrying industrial effluents merges with the river Sutlej near Ropar international wetland http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=7§id=edid=&edlabel=TOIPU&mydateHid=24-08-2009&pubname=&edname=&articleid=Ar00700&publabel=TOI 
Rampur Bhushair Sutlej gorge. http://www.flickr.com/photos/63783963@N00/17386820 (Source: http://flickrhivemind.net/flickr_hvmnd.cgi?method=GET&page=1&photo_number=50&tag_mode=all&search_type=Tags&originput=river,satluj&sorting=Interestingness&photo_type=250&noform=t&search_domain=Tags&sort=Interestingness&textinput=river,satluj) 
Sutlej en route to Powari. http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8002/7203725524_8c034b82a7_m.jpg 
Ropar 1,Text 9021(One side of the tablet has two incised circles; the other side has three glyphs of Indus script).