In a remarkable archaeological breakthrough, researchers have discovered the first confirmed Harappan settlement in Rajasthanโs desert zone. This site, known as Ratadiya Ri Dheri, lies deep in the Jaisalmerย district and has now placed Rajasthan prominently on the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) map.
๐งญ Key Discovery of Ratadiya Ri Dheri
- ๐ Location: Ratadiya Ri Dheri, 60 km from Ramgarh tehsil, Rajasthan.
- ๐งโ๐ซ Discovered by: Dilip Kumar Saini (history lecturer) and Parth Jagani (local historian).
- ๐งฑ Findings:
- Red pottery (bowls, jars)
- Shell and clay bangles
- Wedge-shaped kiln bricks
- Terracotta cakes and stone tools
- Chert blade fragments (indicative of trade)
- ๐ฅ Kilns resemble those at Mohenjo-Daro and Kanmer, Gujarat.
- ๐ฐ๏ธ Dated to Mature Harappan Phase (2600โ1900 BCE)
This site bridges the archaeological gap between northern Rajasthan (Pilibanga) and Gujarat (Dholavira, Lothal), confirming how vast and interconnected the civilisation was.
๐บ Other Major Indus Valley Civilization Sites
Hereโs a consolidated list of key IVC sites, excavators, locations, and findings:
|
Site |
Excavated By |
Location |
Major Findings |
|
Harappa |
Daya Ram Sahni (1921) |
On Ravi River, Montgomery, Pakistan |
Sandstone statues, granaries, bullock carts |
|
Mohenjo-Daro |
R.D. Banerjee (1922) |
On Indus River, Larkana, Pakistan |
Great Bath, granary, dancing girl, seal of Pasupathi |
|
Sutkagendor |
Stein (1929) |
Balochistan, Pakistan (Dast River) |
Trade point between Harappa and Babylon |
|
Chanhudaro |
N.G. Majumdar (1931) |
Sindh, on Indus River |
Bead maker’s shop, dog chasing cat footprint |
|
Amri |
N.G. Majumdar (1935) |
Bank of Indus River |
Antelope remains |
|
Kalibangan |
Ghose (1953) |
Rajasthan (Ghaggar River) |
Fire altars, camel bones, wooden plough |
|
Lothal |
R. Rao (1953) |
Gujarat (near Gulf of Cambay) |
Dockyard, chess, rice husk, first man-made port |
|
Surkotada |
J.P. Joshi (1964) |
Gujarat |
Horse bones, beads |
|
Banawali |
R.S. Bisht (1974) |
Hisar, Haryana |
Beads, barley, pre & mature Harappan evidence |
|
Dholavira |
R.S. Bisht (1985) |
Gujarat (Rann of Kachchh) |
Water reservoirs, water harvesting system |
๐ Connecting the Dots: Rajasthan to Gujarat
Until now, Rajasthanโs major Harappan connection was through Kalibangan, located on the Ghaggar River. With Ratadiya Ri Dheri, a southern desert settlement is now confirmed, extending the Indus reach further and showing how adaptable and widespread the civilisation was, even in dry areas.
๐ก Water Was Crucial Then Too
- The discovery supports theories that ancient water sources dictated settlement locations.
- Disappearing rivers and shifting climate likely influenced migration and city development during the Indus Valley Civilisation.
๐๏ธ Did You Know?
- The Indus Valley Civilisation was one of the four oldest urban civilisations in the world (the others: Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China).
- It is called the Bronze Age Civilisation due to its extensive use of copper and bronze.
- The civilisation thrived from 6000 BCE to 1300 BCE, with the Mature Harappan Phase (2600โ1900 BCE) being the most prosperous.
๐ Why Ratadiya Ri Dheri is a Game Changer
โ
First Harappan site in deep Rajasthan desert
โ
Bridges known sites of Gujarat and north Rajasthan
โ
Confirms urban traits like kilns, trade tools, and crafts
โ
Offers clues about climate influence on early human life
โ
Supports long-distance trade via chert blades and stone tools
๐ง MCQs on Indus Valley
- What is the first confirmed Harappan site in Rajasthanโs desert?
a) Kalibangan
b) Banawali
c) Ratadiya Ri Dheri โ
d) Dholavira - Who discovered the Ratadiya Ri Dheri site?
a) Luigi Tessitori
b) R.S. Bisht
c) Dilip Kumar Saini โ
d) R.D. Banerjee - Which tool found at Ratadiya Ri Dheri suggests trade?
a) Fire altar
b) Chert blade โ
c) Bronze statue
d) Dockyard - What is unique about Dholavira?
a) Dockyard
b) Great Bath
c) Fire altar
d) Water reservoir โ - Which site was discovered in 1922 by R.D. Banerjee?
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjo-Daro โ
c) Kalibangan
d) Surkotada
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