Which is the Oldest Religion in the World: Examining the Claims Around the Indus Valley Civilization and Sumerian Civilization

The question of which religion is the oldest in the world has long fascinated historians and archaeologists. A prevailing hypothesis suggests Hinduism, which is often attributed to the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), may be the oldest. However, the Sumerian Civilization, dating back to around 3100 BCE, also makes a strong claim. This article delves into the arguments supporting and against the belief that the IVC predates the Sumerian Civilization, and how this relates to the origins of religion.

Arguments Supporting the IVC’s Greater Age

Several pieces of evidence support the hypothesis that the Indus Valley Civilization predates the Sumerian Civilization:

1. Carbon Dating Evidence

Carbon dating from sites like Bhirrana near Bhirdana indicates IVC settlements date back to 7570 BCE, which predates the earliest Sumerian dates of around 3100 BCE.

2. Proto-Harappan Sites

Proto-Harappan sites like Mehrgarh in Baluchistan, which exhibit cultural continuity leading to the IVC, date back to 7000 BCE or earlier.

3. Early Agricultural Practices

Archaeological evidence shows early agricultural practices, such as the cultivation of wheat and barley, at Mehrgarh, suggesting that the IVC transitioned to urbanism even earlier than Sumer.

4. Sophistication of Town Planning

Mature Harappan sites like Mohenjo-Daro and Dholavira demonstrate advanced drainage and urban planning, indicating a broader timeline of development compared to Sumerian cities.

5. Continuity of Pottery and Tools

Pottery and tools from early Harappan phases suggest cultural development over millennia, possibly older than the Sumerian record.

6. Absence of Defensive Structures

Early IVC sites lack significant fortifications, implying that they existed in peaceful conditions for a longer period than Sumer.

7. Early Use of Seals

Indus seals with intricate iconography and inscriptions point to a long tradition of symbolic communication that predates Sumerian cuneiform.

8. Domestication of Animals

Archaeological evidence of early cattle domestication and water buffalo use in IVC suggests advanced agrarian systems possibly older than those in Sumer.

9. River Systems

The Ghaggar-Hakra Saraswati river system, around which early IVC sites are located, is hypothesized to have been active before the Tigris and Euphrates supported Sumerian cities.

10. Recent Excavations

Discoveries at Rakhigarhi and Bhirrana challenge the chronology of urbanism in the ancient world, suggesting that IVC may indeed be a contender for the earliest civilization.

Arguments Against the IVC Being Much Older

Despite the evidence supporting an older IVC, there are several arguments against this claim:

1. Established Dates for Sumer

Historical and archaeological records place the emergence of Sumerian city-states like Ur and Uruk firmly around 3100 BCE, without definitive evidence suggesting that IVC cities were comparably urbanized earlier.

2. Lack of Written Records

While Sumerian cuneiform writing is dated to 3100 BCE, the Indus script remains undeciphered and lacks direct evidence of early writing systems.

3. Limited Carbon Dating Sites

The claim of IVC’s greater age is based on limited sites like Bhirrana, whereas a larger number of Sumerian sites provide consistent chronological data.

4. Lack of Monumental Architecture

Sumer has evidence of monumental ziggurats from early periods, while IVC lacks comparable monumental structures from similar dates.

5. Continuity of Sumerian Influence

Sumerian cities influenced later Mesopotamian cultures directly, while IVC’s connection to subsequent cultures is debated.

6. No Evidence of Metallurgy Before Sumer

Early Sumerians used metallurgy and bronze tools around 3300 BCE, while evidence for similar developments in IVC is from later periods.

7. Evidence of Trade

Sumerian texts mention trade with regions like Meluhha (possibly IVC) only after 2500 BCE, implying that the major urban phase of IVC might not have preceded Sumer.

8. River Drying Hypothesis

If the Ghaggar-Hakra river (Saraswati) dried up around 1900 BCE, it challenges the argument that the early IVC could sustain urbanization before Sumer’s rise.

9. Decipherability and Records

Sumer has deciphered texts providing clear historical timelines, whereas IVC’s chronology relies on indirect evidence and interpretations.

10. Cultural Continuity in Sumer

Sumerian civilization shows a continuous urban tradition from the Ubaid period around 6500 BCE, challenging the idea that IVC was more ancient in its cultural progression.

In conclusion, while the Indus Valley Civilization presents strong evidence of a possible earlier start than the Sumerian Civilization, the definitive answer to which civilization is older remains unresolved. Further excavations, radiocarbon dating, and decipherment of the Indus script will be crucial in clarifying the timeline and cultural origins of these early civilizations.