Marshall, John Hubert (1876–1958)

English archaeologist. As director general of archaeology in India 1902–31, he was responsible for extensive surveys and excavations, including those at Mohenjo Daro and Harappa in northwestern India (now Pakistan), which brought to light the previously unknown Indus Valley civilization.

His systematic excavation of Harappa involving 800 labourers at one point. The work revealed a system of ‘urban’ settlement, with drainage systems and widespread evidence of inscribed seals. The findigs at Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa allowed comparisons with the recently excavated rich remains at the ancient Sumerian city of Ur in Mesopotamia, and suggested trade links between the two civilizations. Other important sites excavated include Taxila in the Himalayan foothills, and sites of the Buddhist period such as Sanchi, central India, and Sarnath in the Ganges Valley.

As director general of archaeology in India, Marshall reorganized the department of archaeology and contributed to the development of a cultural identity for Indian archaeology beyond textual and art-historical sources.

He published numerous works, including Mohenjo Daro and the Indus Valley Civilisation 1931 and Taxila 1951.