Have you ever heard of the mysterious Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) that emerged around 5,700 years ago in what is now modern-day northern India and Pakistan? This ancient culture, known for its enigmatic writing system and massive walled cities, disappeared just as mysteriously as it appeared, leaving behind a wealth of unanswered questions. But fear not, researchers are hard at work uncovering clues about life in this ancient realm.

One of the most famous settlements of the IVC was the bustling city of Harappa, which thrived from approximately 3700 to 1300 BCE. Within its walls, archaeologists have discovered numerous examples of the Indus Valley Script, a form of early writing that still baffles experts to this day.

Recently, the Indian government made waves by offering a generous $1 million prize to anyone who can decipher the ancient script, in hopes of shedding light on the lost civilization. Although the prize remains unclaimed, a recent study has shed some light on the social structure and daily activities of Harappa during its peak.

By analyzing over a thousand samples of ancient plant remains found at the site, researchers have uncovered that a high proportion of grain compared to chaff suggests that food processing likely took place outside the city by a large workforce before being brought to Harappa in a processed form to feed the urban population.

Contrary to previous beliefs that crops were processed within individual households, this study suggests that food processing was actually centralized at village sites and controlled by the urban centers of the IVC. Additionally, the presence of weed seeds in Harappa is attributed to the cultural practice of burning cattle dung for fuel, providing a steady source of heat for cooking and other purposes.

While these findings offer some insight into the ancient practices of Harappa, there is still much to learn about the daily lives, language, and religious beliefs of its inhabitants. With the tempting incentive of the million-dollar prize, researchers are optimistic about uncovering more secrets of this fascinating civilization. The study detailing these findings has been published in the esteemed journal Antiquity.