Mohenjo-Daro's Small Public Structures: Heterarchy, Collective Action and a Re-visitation of Old Interpretations with GIS and 3D Modelling

A re-examination of Mohenjo-daro's small public structures challenges and refines long-standing interpretations, revealing that these buildings likely served as interconnected components of a single complex rather than isolated 'hostels' or 'offices.' Using GIS analysis and 3D modeling based on early excavation reports, researchers found evidence supporting Ernest Mackay's original hypothesis that these structures had a public orientation. The study also highlights architectural shifts over time, with an increasing preference for smaller houses and public buildings, offering new insights into the heterarchical organization of the Indus civilization (c. 2600–1900 BCE). This approach underscores the potential of digital revisitation to reinterpret archaeological datasets and old interpretations.

Green, A. S. (2017). Mohenjo-Daro’s Small Public Structures: Heterarchy, Collective Action and a Re-visitation of Old Interpretations with GIS and 3D Modelling. Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 28(2), 205–223. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0959774317000774