Crumbling ruins of the Mound of the Dead: World's only Bronze Age city could vanish in just 20 years



The 5,000-year-old ruins of Mohenjodaro are situated in southern Pakistan

The settlement has been left to crumble due to government neglect, a drop in tourism and security issues



Experts believe the site may have completely disappeared within 20 years



The world's only surviving Bronze Age metropolis could disappear within 20 years unless urgent action is taken to preserve it.



The 5,000 year old ruins of the ancient city of Mohenjodaro is situated in what is now the province of Sindh in southern Pakistan on the west bank of the Indus River.



But the settlement has been left to crumble over the years due to government neglect, a drop in tourism and security issues within the country.



The city dates back to 3000BC and was made up of homes with interconnecting rooms, court yards and roads Experts have now warned that Mohenjodaro is in danger of corroding away completely if a rescue plan is not drawn up immediately to save it. Officials met in Karachi last week to discuss ways of preserving it.

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Next Were these dazzling artefacts at the King of Stonehenge's... Did neanderthals invent RECYCLING? Human ancestors collected... Share this article Share The city dates back to 3000BC and was made up of homes with interconnecting rooms, fired brick

walls, court yards, good roads, clean water and even a complex draining system.

The advanced example of urban planning was incredibly complex for its time.



Gold bracelets and a button which were discovered in the settlement in 1980 - the year Mohenjodaro was declared a World Heritage Site A statue of a woman (left) and of a king priest (right) discovered in the ancient settlement



These dice are believed to date back to the Bronze Age and reveal a cultured and sophisticated civilisation living in the Indus Valley There were separate drains for rainwater and sewage which were covered with slabs of limestone to prevent insects.

Wells were built for drinking water and clay litter bins even lined the streets.

Wheat and barley were stored on raised platforms to protect them from flooding and a water cooler took pride of place in a marketplace where people would gather.

There was even a large swimming bath complete with dressing rooms - mainly used for keeping clean.



Cultured: Artefacts found by archeologists in the settlement included this chess set which is now at the Karachi Museum in Pakistan

A necklace made of Carnelian beads (left) and statue known as a mother goddess both discovered on the site



Restored pottery discovered on the ancient site lines a wall near the ruins of the ancient city of Mohenjodaro

More than 40,000 artefacts have been discovered which reveal a sophisticated society of around 40,000 inhabitants living in the Indus Valley which even had its own system of law.



Artefacts include gold jewellery, statues, pottery, games and even a chess set.



But little is known about the appearance of men and women in Mohenjodaro.



However, a seven inch high stone sculpture discovered in the lower city shows how men might have looked and dressed.



The figure's beard is short and neat, his upper lip is shaved clean, and his hair is tied with a band that hangs down his back to his shoulder.

