A Review on The Scientific Synthesis of the Saraswati River: Evidence from Remote Sensing, Geochemistry, and Ancient Texts

This work presents a multidisciplinary synthesis of scientific and textual evidence concerning the Saraswati River, a prominent feature in Vedic literature and a subject of long-standing historical and geological debate. The study integrates insights from remote sensing, sedimentology, isotopic geochemistry, and subsurface investigations to examine the existence, course, and characteristics of a paleo-fluvial system in northwestern India. Drawing upon satellite-based observations, particularly those conducted by the Indian Space Research Organisation, the study identifies extensive paleochannel networks consistent with a large, perennial river system extending from the Himalayan region toward the Rann of Kachchh. These findings are supported by lithological data obtained from drilling, which reveal sediment profiles indicative of high-energy fluvial processes typically associated with glacially fed river systems. The analysis further incorporates isotopic fingerprinting techniques to evaluate sediment provenance and distinguish between potential Himalayan and Siwalik sources. In addition, groundwater studies associated with these paleochannels are considered, highlighting their significance as long-term aquifer systems with substantial hydrological implications. By situating these scientific findings alongside references from Vedic texts, the work adopts an interdisciplinary framework to reassess the historical and geological status of the Saraswati River. The objective is not to assert definitive conclusions, but to consolidate existing lines of evidence and present a coherent synthesis that contributes to ongoing discussions in geoscience, archaeology, and environmental history. This contribution is intended as a research-oriented presentation aimed at fostering further scholarly inquiry and encouraging integrative approaches to the study of ancient river systems and their broader cultural and ecological contexts.