Helmand = Sarasvati.

From: markodegard@...
Message: 9405
Date: 2001-09-12

> Food for thought:
>
> http://www.picatype.com/dig/dc/dc0aa03.htm
>
> Piotr

Indeed. Does this represent the orthodox view?

Rajesh Kochhar (the web site's author) writes:

--start quote--
this paper argues that the bulk of the Rigveda was
composed on the banks of the river Helmand; the
Ghaggar was already defunct when the Indo-Aryans
encountered it; and that many rivers to the east of
Satluj (Sarasvati, Yamuna, Ganga, Gomati and Sarayu)
were given Rigvedic names for the sake of nostalgia.
--end quote--

He suggests archaeological digs in the Helmand catchment. The
political situation there, however, precludes such a worthy effort.

Elsewhere, he states in re the Harappans:

--start quote--
Studies show that the monsoon was particularly heavy
in the period c. 8000-2000 BC. About 1600 BC the wet
period ended abruptly and was followed by a long
drought
--end quote--

This touches on another interest of mine, how climate has affected
history. The Helmand catchment would have likely suffered
aridification too, provoking migrations eastward.