By Dr Ekta Singh, Assistant professor, Chitrakoot School of Liberal Arts, Shoolini University (Field Archaeologist working in the Trans-Himalayas)
The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is more than a breathtaking mountain range—it is a living museum of human history. From prehistoric lithic tools to intricate rock art and ancient burial grounds, this terrain is layered with heritage that reflects millennia of movement, belief, and survival. But today, these sites are increasingly at risk—not just from time, but from the dual threats of climate change and air pollution.
Spiti Valley: A Case Study in Fragility
In the high-altitude Trans-Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh, the Spiti Valley offers compelling evidence of early human occupation. Recent geoarchaeological investigations at Dzamathang unearthed a wide array of lithic artefacts—choppers, flakes, bladelets, and scrapers—dating back to the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic periods (Singh et al., 2021). These discoveries suggest that Spiti, long thought to be a barrier, was in fact a corridor of human movement linking India with Tibet and Central Asia.
Yet, this fragile landscape is increasingly unstable. Glaciers feeding the Spiti River are receding rapidly due to rising temperatures, and erratic precipitation patterns are accelerating erosion. Ancient petroglyphs located on exposed boulders near riverbanks are flaking, cracking, and fading under intensified freeze-thaw cycles and dust-laden winds (Singh et al., 2021; Rawat et al., 2025).
Nestled in the cold barren desert land of the Indian Himalayas lies Spiti Valley—a treasure trove of ancient human history. For millennia, this region has echoed with the footsteps of early humans, monks, nomads, and traders. But today, the legacy etched into its rocks is crumbling—literally.
Ancient Echoes in Danger
Recent archaeological surveys in Dzamathang, a site in Spiti Valley, unearthed thousands of stone tools—some dating back tens of thousands of years. These include microlithic blades, scrapers, and even petroglyphs (rock carvings) believed to reflect early hunting scenes and symbolic motifs (Singh et al., 2021).
This evidence shows that Spiti wasn’t a deserted mountain desert but a passageway for human migration, connecting India with Tibet and Central Asia. But with glaciers melting and unpredictable weather patterns rising, these fragile remnants of our past are beginning to disappear.
“Our artefacts are literally cracking apart,” says a team member involved in the ongoing geoarchaeological research. “The freeze-thaw cycles have intensified. Rocks once protected by snow now break under direct exposure.”
A Development Dilemma
The pressure is not only natural—it is also human-made. In the name of development, a series of hydroelectric projects have been approved across the Spiti River basin. As documented by Singh, Bodh, and Saklani (2017), at least 6 hydro projects—potentially expanding to 14—threaten to encroach upon largely unexplored rock art sites. These projects involve road-widening, tunneling, and blasting, directly endangering petroglyphs and rock shelters that have never been formally studied.
Moreover, air pollution from increased vehicular movement and construction activities is compounding the problem. Dust and emissions settle on rock surfaces, reacting with moisture to accelerate chemical weathering. As observed in field surveys, many petroglyph-bearing boulders have been vandalized, repurposed for construction, or are now deteriorating due to biological growths—mosses, lichens, and fungi that thrive in the changing climate (Singh et al., 2017).
Burial Grounds Disturbed
Equally concerning is the threat to ancient burial sites, which hold crucial insights into trans-Himalayan trade and belief systems. In the Spiti region, multiple high-altitude graves have been identified—closely resembling burial practices in Western Tibet and Nepal (Nautiyal et al., 2014). These graves, often containing human remains, ceramics, and trade goods like marine shells from distant coasts, offer clues about cross-regional interaction (Rawat et al., 2025).
Climate change has led to permafrost melt and shifting sediments, undermining the structural integrity of these burial mounds. Once exposed, these remains become vulnerable to weathering, looting, and destruction—especially in areas targeted for tourism or development (Rawat et al., 2025; Singh et al., 2021).
A Call for Urgent Action
Despite the strategic and cultural value of these sites, archaeological perspectives remain underrepresented in environmental and infrastructure policy frameworks. The Indian Himalayan Region, comprising over 16% of India’s landmass, is also a significant geopolitical frontier. Its heritage is not only cultural—it is national (Rawat et al., 2025).
As archaeologists, we advocate for a multi-pronged conservation strategy:
- Mandatory heritage impact assessments for all infrastructure projects.
- Digital documentation and 3D scanning of high-risk sites.
- Active involvement of local communities in site protection.
- Strict regulation on stone extraction, vehicular movement, and tourist access near vulnerable zones.
- Conduct climate-based risk assessments for archaeological sites.
- Design tourism and infrastructure projects that respect cultural landscapes.
Conclusion
In Spiti and beyond, every weathered petroglyph or fractured burial mound is a loss of human history. Climate change and unchecked development are pushing these ancient voices into silence. As stewards of the past, we must urgently forge alliances between archaeology, environmental science, and policy to preserve these fragile windows into human history.
“The Indian Himalayan Region accounts for over 16% of our land, but much more of our identity,” a 2025 study on Himalayan borderland archaeology. “Losing this heritage isn’t just about history—it’s about losing who we are.”
What’s being lost in the Himalayas is not just stone—it is memory. Every carved ibex, every weathered tool, and every ancient grave is a whisper from the past. It’s time we listen—before it’s too late.
Sources Cited:
- Singh, E., Patel, R., & Bhatt, R.C. (2021). Understanding Geo-archaeology in Trans-Himalaya: A Case Study from Spiti Valley, Geological Society of London.
- Singh, E., Bodh, V.K., & Saklani, P.M. (2017). Contesting Antiquity and Development: A Report on Rock Art Preservation in Spiti Valley, Revue d’Études Tibétaines.
- Rawat, N., Nautiyal, V., Hazarika, M., Singh, E., & Sarmah, S. (2025). Relevance of Borderland Archaeology in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). In Indian Himalayan Region: Towards a Sustainable Future.
- Nautiyal, V. et al. (2014). A Preliminary Investigation of the Burial Sites at Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh, India.
