Buried for 4,500 years: Rajasthan dig uncovers evidence of lost civilisation
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has unearthed a 4,500-year-old civilisation in Rajasthan, discovering statues, utensils and metal weapons dating back to the Mahabharata era and the Maurya and Shunga dynasties.
advertisementDuring the research, ASI identified a spot in Bahaj village in Deeg district, around 40 kilometres from Bharatpur, where some evidence related to ancient civilisation was found.
Notably, Bahaj village is a significant spot as it is a part of the Braj region, which also comprises Mathura in Uttar Pradesh.
After getting permission from the government, the ASI team started excavation in Bahaj village in January. During the excavation that went on for about six months, ASI officials found statues, utensils and metal weapons dating back to as early as 2,500 BC.
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A human skeleton was found during the excavation and was sent to Israel to ascertain how old it was.
The statues found in the excavation were sent to the Archaeological Department in Jaipur and some of them were kept in the museum of Deeg Jal Mahal and others.
"After getting permission from the government, the department conducted a survey for the excavation that began on January 10. We achieved success during the excavation and it will be continued further. There are chances of finding more evidence of ancient civilisation," said Dr Vinay Gupta, the Director of Archaeological Department, Jaipur.Earlier, the ASI conducted excavation in Nauh village of Bharatpur tehsil from 1961 to 1963 to collect evidence of ancient civilisation in the area.- Ends(with inputs from Suresh Foujdar in Bharatpur)
IN THIS STORY#Rajasthan
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Buried for 4,500 years: Rajasthan dig uncovers evidence of lost civilisation
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has unearthed a 4,500-year-old civilisation in Rajasthan, discovering statues, utensils and metal weapons dating back to the Mahabharata era and the Maurya and Shunga dynasties. advertisementDuring the research, ASI identified a spot in Bahaj village in Deeg district, around 40 kilometres from Bharatpur, where some evidence related to ancient civilisation was found. Notably, Bahaj village is a significant spot as it is a part of the Braj region, which also comprises Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. After getting permission from the government, the ASI team started excavation in Bahaj village in January. During the excavation that went on for about six months, ASI officials found statues, utensils and metal weapons dating back to as early as 2,500 BC. advertisement A human skeleton was found during the excavation and was sent to Israel to ascertain how old it was. The statues found in the excavation were sent to the Archaeological Department in Jaipur and some of them were kept in the museum of Deeg Jal Mahal and others. "After getting permission from the government, the department conducted a survey for the excavation that began on January 10. We achieved success during the excavation and it will be continued further. There are chances of finding more evidence of ancient civilisation," said Dr Vinay Gupta, the Director of Archaeological Department, the ASI conducted excavation in Nauh village of Bharatpur tehsil from 1961 to 1963 to collect evidence of ancient civilisation in the area.- Ends(with inputs from Suresh Foujdar in Bharatpur) IN THIS STORY#Rajasthan
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Deeg, Rajasthan: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has unearthed evidence of a civilisation dating back 4,500 years in Bahaj village of Deeg district, Rajasthan. The excavation, which began on January 10, 2024, has yielded several significant findings, including a 23-metre-deep paleo-channel which archaeologists are linking to the mythical Saraswati River, which is mentioned in the Rig Veda. This ancient river system likely supported early human settlements and connected Bahaj to the larger Saraswati basin culture. Over 800 artefacts have been unearthed in the excavation, including pottery, the oldest seals of Brahmi script, copper coins, Yajna Kund, Mauryan period sculptures, idols of Lord Shiva and Parvati, and tools made of bones. The excavation has revealed evidence of five different periods, including the Harappan post-period, the Mahabharata period, the Mauryan period, the Kushan period and the Gupta period. The recent findings suggest that the Braj region has been a centre of religious, cultural, and historical heritage. The excavation in Bahaj village reached a depth of about 23 meters, marking the deepest excavation ever conducted in Rajasthan to date. ASI site head Pawan Saraswat told NDTV the excavation uncovered an ancient river channel, or paleo channel, potentially linked to the Rigveda's Saraswati River. He said this water system likely supported early human settlements, connecting the Saraswati valley with the Mathura and Braj regions. According to the ASI team, the excavation also revealed Mahabharata-era layers with pottery and havan kunds, featuring rectangular and circular paintings and remains of fire rituals. The pottery matches descriptions of clothing and utensils from the Mahabharata period, officials said. Archaeologists believe that excavations at this site have yielded a statue dating back to 400 BC, which is believed to be the head of the Mauryan Mother Goddess. Mud walls and pillars of the Gupta architectural style, furnaces related to metallurgy, which indicated the use of raw materials of copper and iron. Tools made of bones, including needles, combs and moulds, have been found in this form for the first time in India. Other evidence found in the excavations includes terracotta statues of Shiva-Parvati, which are associated with the Shakti and Bhakti traditions. Conch shell bangles and semi-precious stone beads, which reflect the trade and beauty traditions of that period. More than 15 yajna kunds, which confirm the religious rituals of the Vedic and Uttarvedic periods. Apart from this, a human skeleton has also been found during the excavation, which has been sent to Israel for examination. The excavation offers a new direction to the understanding of the ancient history of not only Rajasthan but also the entire North India. The ASI has submitted a report to the Ministry of Culture, while the area is likely to be declared a National Archaeological Protected Area.
