Moenjodaro 3D is a browser-based 3D reconstruction of Mohenjo-daro in Sindh, Pakistan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the great cities of the Indus Civilisation. The pilot focuses on the Great Bath.

The model is built only from published evidence. The Great Bath follows the excavation report of Sir John Marshall (1931). It sits on real terrain (Copernicus elevation data) and real satellite imagery (Sentinel-2), at its true location on the Citadel mound.

Every element in the scene carries an evidence level, from surveyed data to published description to hypothesis. Visitors can switch on “Evidence colours” to see what is known and what is interpretation. Elements without direct evidence, such as the roof, are shown as transparent “ghosts”. The method follows international guidelines for virtual heritage (the London Charter and the Seville Principles).

A time slider moves between the Mature Harappan city (c. 2600–1900 BCE) and the ruins as they stand today, including the salt damage and mud capping of current conservation. The sun follows its true path over Mohenjo-daro in every season.

The pilot is the first phase of a larger plan: a drone survey of the site, the full Citadel mound, and eventually the whole city, developed with archaeological advisors and the relevant authorities in Sindh.

Key features

Runs in any modern browser, on desktop and mobile, with no install
Real terrain and satellite data at the site’s true location
Great Bath reconstructed from Marshall’s 1931 excavation report
Time slider: Mature Harappan city ⟷ ruins today
Evidence levels on every element, with sources, and an “Evidence colours” view
Hypotheses shown as ghosts, solid, or hidden
True sun path for every season
Buried drain shown as an overlay

Technology

Three.js (WebGL), open geodata (Copernicus DEM, Sentinel-2, OpenStreetMap / Overture Maps), a Python data pipeline, hosted on Cloudflare.

The same model coloured by evidence level. — Evidence colours: gold is published description, pink is hypothesis.

3D model of the Great Bath ruins with low walls and an empty tank. — The same building today: eroded walls, dry tank, mud capping.

Aerial 3D view of the Mohenjo-daro landscape with the Indus river. — The site on real terrain and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery.

Help build the next phases

The Great Bath is the first phase. Next come a drone survey of the site, the full Citadel mound, and eventually the whole city. We welcome archaeologists, museums, universities and heritage organisations who want to take part, and we build evidence-based 3D reconstructions for other heritage sites too.

Talk to us about heritage in 3D