Ancient History & Environment
A new multi-proxy paleoclimate study argues that the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) declined not due to a single catastrophic event, but because of recurring, centuries-long drought cycles. The researchers identified four major drought phases, each lasting over 85 years, with the most intense episode peaking around 1733 BCE, stretching for nearly 164 years.
These repeated drought cycles created persistent hydrological instability, gradually undermining agriculture, trade networks, and urban systems. Instead of sudden collapse, the civilisation experienced a slow, climate-driven weakening over generations.
APSC relevance: Important for IVC decline theories, climate–civilisation linkages, and interdisciplinary archaeological research.
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