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Excavations at Balathal: their contribution to the Chalcolithic and Iron Age cultures of Mewar, Rajasthan

Man & environment • 20 (1) • Published In 1995 • Pages: 57-80

By: Misra, V. N., Shinde, Vasant, Mohanty, R. K., Dalal, Kurush, Mishra, Anup, Pandey, Lalit, Kharahwal, Jeevan.

Abstract

Misra et al. excavated at Balathal. The site has Chalcolithic and Iron Age components. During their two field seasons at the site they have uncovered multi-roomed dwellings, copper implements, and ceramics. There are also indications that the people of Balathal had close contact (of some sort) with the Harappans as seen in their house construction (stone and mud-brick dwellings similar to those found at Harappan sites in Gujarat), copper artifacts, and ceramics. Contact with the Harappans seems to have occurred around 2500 B.C. and Reserve-Slipped ware, which was found at Mohenjo-daro, may have originated at Balathal. Later excavations at this site (see eHRAF document #4) revealed the fortification is Chalcolithic (about 2500 B.C.-1800 B.C.) and not Iron Age as reported in this document. Therefore, the fortification has been marked for Outlineof Cultural Materials (OCM) codes.

HRAF PubDate

2002

Region

Asia

Sub Region

South Asia

Document Type

article

Evaluation

Creator Type

Archaeologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Sarah Berry ; 2001

Field Date

1994, 1995

Coverage Date

4500 BP-3800 BP (2500 B.C.-1800 B.C.)

Coverage Place

Balathal, Rajasthan, India

Notes

V. N. Misra, Vasant Shinde, R. K. Mohanty, Kurush Dalal, Anup Mishra, Lalit Pandey, and Jeevan Kharahwal

Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-80)

LCCN

77912049

LCSH

Neolithic Period--India