The legacy of Harappa has lasting economic, cultural, linguistic and technological impact, said Superintending Archaeologist from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Smita S. Kumar here on Friday.

Delivering the keynote address at an interdisciplinary symposium organised to commemorate the 100th anniversary of discovering the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) here, she said the Harappan civilisation “not only shaped the economic landscape of the world but also fostered cross-cultural interactions that helped lay the foundation for global trade systems in the centuries to come”.

Her address focussed on maritime networks of the Harappan civilisation and their crucial role in shaping its economic and cultural trajectory.

The symposium discussed the various aspects of IVC, which dates back over 5,000 years. It displayed human-made stone tools, some over 100,000 years old, and rare antiquities offering a glimpse into the technological advancements of early human settlements.

Vice-Chancellor of Mahindra University Yajulu Medury said the aim of the symposium was to improve the understanding of IVC and to guide the interdisciplinary project of the university’s research team that is working on deciphering the Indus Valley script. The research involves researchers from media and communication, humanities and social sciences, linguistics, cognitive sciences, artificial intelligence and history.

Talks at the event were delivered by senior professors of archaeology K.P. Rao, Suchandra Ghosh and Radhika Mamidi.