The article majorly deals with the excavation of sites in the Indus Valley, particularly the author's at Balakot, Pakistan. The deterioration of brick structures at the 2000 BC city Mohenjo Daro is discussed and illustrated. Most of this damage has been caused by the recrystallization of salt and by the artificially raised water level. UNESCO's plans to lower the water level and to divert the Indus waters have been hampered by rising costs. Salt problems are still being studied. -- AATA