ASI finds ancient river channel linked to Saraswati in Bharatpur
Jaipur: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has unearthed a dried-up river channel beneath Bahaj village in Deeg district — believed by many scholars to be linked to the mythical Saraswati River.
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The excavation, carried out between April 2024 and May 2025, is hailed as the second-largest archaeological excavation in Rajasthan's history. What excites historians and archaeologists most is that the site offers a vivid window into ancient settlements that thrived between 3500 BC and 1000 BC. Most of the discoveries date back to the Kushan, Magadha, and Sunga dynasties.
Among the standout discoveries is a 23-metre-deep palaeo-channel — a buried ancient riverbed, the first such finding in Indian archaeological history.
"This ancient river system nourished early human settlements and connects Bahaj to the larger Saraswati basin culture," said Vinay Gupta, superintending archaeologist, ASI Jaipur, in his presentation at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) recently. Gupta described the palaeo-channel as an "unprecedented discovery confirming ancient water systems supported civilisation here".
Further digging revealed residential structures with earthen posts, trenches with stratified walls, furnaces, and a variety of iron and copper artefacts.
Microlithic tools — small stone implements — suggest that the settlement's roots stretch into the pre-Holocene era. "The discovery of furnaces and metal objects clearly indicates the inhabitants' advanced knowledge of metallurgy," Gupta said at the antiquity exhibition held in Deeg in May 2025.
What makes Bahaj even more remarkable are the spiritual relics unearthed: 15 Yajna Kundas (sacrificial pits), votive tanks dedicated to Shakti worship, and terracotta images of Shiva and Parvati, dating back to at least 1000 BCE, pushing back the antiquity of these traditions by centuries.
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Archaeologists also found four unbaked sealings, two inscribed with Brahmi letters — considered the earliest datable Brahmi script evidence on the subcontinent.
In addition, large-scale Yajna Kundas from the Mahajanapada period were discovered, filled with sandy soil and miniature pots holding uninscribed copper coins. This could challenge existing timelines on the origins of Indian coinage.
The excavation also points to Bahaj's rich craft heritage: evidence of bone tool industries, semi-precious bead-making, and shell bangle production, highlighting the region's economic vibrancy across ages.
Experts believe that Bahaj — located within Surasena Janapada region of ancient India, of which Mathura was a key centre — could prove vital in reshaping our understanding of India's early history.
"The Bahaj excavation has the potential to rewrite key chapters of India's early history — from food production to the origins of Sanatana Dharma and early trade practices. Bahaj offers it all," Gupta concluded in the paper. Bahaj village, located about 50 km from Mathura, holds significant archaeological importance. Earlier, similar ancient discoveries were made at 3-4 sites in the region, but this is the largest so far, according to the ASI.
ASI has submitted a detailed report to the Union ministry of Culture, which will decide the next steps for the site's future.
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