[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v1.c19.s1.34 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c19.s1.34 An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c19.s1.34 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c19.s1.34](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c19.s1.34) (vi) Rajasthan. The first settled communities of Rajasthan showed preference for certain regions: the stretch along the ancient SARASVATĪ and DṚṢADVATĪ, the area of Udaipur and the adjacent Dts- in the s.-e , the strip between Bharatpur and Agra, which is essentially a continuation of the upper Ganga valley, and the Aravalli shadow in and around the copper mines of Khetri. Settlements beginning with the pre-Harappa and continuing right up to the medieval period, with the Harappa, PGW and the Kushan Rang Mahal phase \[4.18.2\] in between, are prolific along the Sarasvatī-Dṛṣadvatī course, and even when the rivers were out of their perennial flow by the 4th-5th centuries A.D. the remaining green strip across the desert provided the straightest route from Sind to the gates of Delhi and accounts for the medieval forts still standing along the way. Apart from the explored sites of NOHAR and SOTHI, the most important excavated pre-Harappa (and Harappa) settlement is KALIBANGAN, although some controlled digging was done at the Harappa settlement of TARKHANEWALA-DERA. Remains of a still earlier complex called the Hakra complex have recently been hinted at on the other side of the border, and it might be interesting to know if any horizon like this exists on the Indian side of the border too. PGW sites abound (and possibly some OCW sites as well, as these have been reported from the same area in Pakistan) in the region, but apart from investigating its stratigraphic relationship at CHAK 86 nothing has been done on the settlements of the period. The most prominent and excavated historical settlement of this area is RANG MAHAL. In the Aravalli shadow of e. Rajasthan certain sites came to develop in the Khetri mining belt, and settlements like NANDALALPURA, JODHPURA and KULHADE-KA-JOHAD, all with OCW association (the last site has a seemingly Indus association too) and apparently plentiful copper implements may be interpreted as copper-smelting and implement-manufacturing sites. In the strip between Bharatpur and Agra the most important excavated settlement is NOH where the occupation begins with the OCW. In s.-e. Rajasthan the dominant early complex is stratified at the excavated sites of AHAR² and GILUND. Among the historical settlements in e. Rajasthan as a whole mention should be made of BAIRAT, RAIRH, SAMBHAR and NAGARI, all rather haphazardly explored and excavated. The post-Stone Age settlements in w. Rajasthan beyond the Ghaggar system is little known or even understood, and in any future exploration the caravan routes across the desert which later on gave rise to places like Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Bikaner should be duly considered for revealing earlier settlements along them. - [Previous: v1.c19.s1.33](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c19.s1.33) - [Next: v1.c19.s1.35](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c19.s1.35) - [Up: v1.c19.s1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c19.s1) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c19.s1.34](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c19.s1.34) · Pramāṇa