The Archaeological Sites in Rajasthan reveal not merely a chronological arrangement of events & incidents, but also an analysis of development of society, its culture and changing panorama of the socio-economic conditions.
A survey of the Banas and its tributaries the Gambhiri, the Viraj, and Wagan has provided evidences that man lived along the banks of these rivers at least 100,000 years ago.
Excavations at Kalibanga in northern Rajasthan revealed the existence of human settlements of Harappan times on the banks of Saraswati river.
The present day districts of Jhunjhunu and Sikar, along with other areas of Jaipur district bordering south Haryana, formed the part of Vedic state of Brahmavarta.
Archaeological Sites in Rajasthan
- Middle Palaeolithic or Middle Old Stone Age (1,00,000 – 40,000 BC)
- Luni Valley
- Budha Pushkar
- Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age (10,000 – 5000 BC)
- Indus Valley or Harappa Civilization (3500 – 2500 BC)
- Kalibangan
- Baror
- Karanpura
- Sothi
- Ahar-Banas Culture (3000 – 1500 BC)
- Ochre-Coloured Pottery (OCP) Culture (2500 – 2000 BC)
- Ganeshwar
- Jodhpura
Tilwara
- Tilwara is located in Pachpadra tehsil of Barmer district of Rajasthan.
- As per V N Mishra, the most important evidence for mesolithic culture comes from the two excavated sites of Tilwara in Barmer & Bagor in Bhilwara district.
- The site is situated on the banks of Luni River.
Nimbahera
- It is a late Mesolithic site located in chittorgarh district of Rajasthan state.
- Located on the banks of river “Kadamali”(tributary of Gambhiri river)
- Archaeologists have found evidences of microlith industries and a temporary workshop at the site.
- Excavated by – V.N mishra in the year “1962-63”
- In a recent discovery rock paintings are found in the shelters near the dhareshwar falls, Nimbahera.
- These paintings belongs to around three different phases
- Mesolithic age (7000-4500yrs)
- Bronze age (4500-3000yrs)
- Historic age (2500-1500yrs)
- The mesolitic paintings appears to be quite similar to the Bhimbetka cave paintings.
Ojhiyana
- This ancient civilization was first explored in 1999-2001.
- The site is located near Khari river in the Bhilwara district of Rajasthan.
- Excavation revealed the truth of the 3rd millennium BC to 2nd millennium BC chalcolithic cultures.
- The site is unusually located on hill slop, which makes it unique among other site of Ahar culture, which flourished in river valleys.
- It revealed remains evidence like white painted black and red wares, white painted terracotta bulls, cow figurines, copper choppers are founded, etc.
- The excavation revealed some unique antiquities, particularly a large number of terracotta bulls, both naturalistic and stylized, presenting a great variety of shape and size.
- White paintings on these bulls make them unparallel in contemporary cultures in India. These white painted bulls, being unique, may also be termed as Ojiyana bulls which perhaps served as cult objects and as it appears white paintings was applied during the ceremony or rituals. Another important discovery is the terracotta figurines of cow. Modeling of cow here was quite common as is evidence from the variety of modeling. These were also perhaps the cult objects.
Sahibi River
- Several Ochre Coloured Pottery culture sites (also identified as late Harappan phase of Indus Valley Civilisation culture) have been found along the banks of Sahibi river and its tributaries such as Krishnavati, Dohan & Sota River.
- Artefacts including a red stone statue of the esteemed Vamana Dev has been found.
- Other things include arrowheads, awls, chisels, and fishhooks.
Other Important Archeological Sites in Rajasthan
| Archeological Site | District |
|---|---|
| Sunari | Khetri, Jhunjhunu |
| Rangmahal | Ghaggar River, Hanumangarh |
| Noh | Bharatpur |
| Nagari | River Berach, Chittorgarh |
| Redh | River Dheel, tonk |