Latest news with #Chalcolithic
The Print
26-05-2025
- The Print
Who were Rajasthan's Aharians—metallurgy masters with cultural ties to Central Asia?
The Ahar culture has been identified at 111 sites in the region, including Balathal, Gilund, and Ojiyana. These settlements reveal a vibrant Chalcolithic tradition, characterised by advanced metallurgy, pottery, and a sophisticated social structure centred around copper, lead, zinc, and silver mines. This makes it a strategically important contributor to the broader Bronze Age economy of the subcontinent. Few are aware that just outside the city centre, near the historic cenotaphs and across the street from the Ahar Archaeological Museum, lies a protected archaeological site of great significance. Excavations carried out at the site in 1961 unearthed evidence of an indigenous culture rooted in the Copper Age that predates the Harappans, and also coexisted with them. The site, named 'Ahar' after the river it is situated on, has become synonymous with the Chalcolithic cultural complex of south-eastern Rajasthan, also called the Ahar culture. Udapiur, the City of Lakes, is a tourist destination known for its palaces and narrow lanes full of art and culture, defined by Mewari imprints. The city takes pride in its royal roots, but for archaeologists, the antiquity of the region goes as far back as the mid-fourth millennium BCE. The findings reveal a parallel world of Aharians, who played a pivotal role as exporters of copper and other minerals, establishing a cultural lineage that remained unbroken for thousands of years. Tambavati Nagari Characterised by the use of copper and stone, the Chalcolithic period derives its name from the Greek words chalcos (copper) and lithos (stone). It marks the transitional phase between the Neolithic and the Bronze Age. Though the Chalcolithic period in the Indian subcontinent is overshadowed by the Harappan civilisation, it was far more geographically widespread and regionally diverse than the latter. Southeast Rajasthan is one of the regions where this diversity finds its imprints, first identified at the ancient mound locally called Dhulkot, later rechristened Ahar. The site was first documented by archaeologist RC Agrawal of the Rajasthan State Department of Archaeology in 1954. Archaeologist HD Sankalia of Deccan College, Pune joined Agrawal in 1961-62 and began digging at the site. Their efforts revealed a two-fold cultural sequence. The first period was the Chalcolithic period, dominated by copper objects. The second period was marked by the introduction of iron tools and Northern Black Polished Ware, characterised by a glossy surface—dating back to the third century BCE. During the Chalcolithic period, a myriad of pottery including grey ware, buff-slipped ware, lustrous red ware, and black burnished ware was in use. But it was the black and red ware that stood out to Agarwal, who initially labelled this culture as 'the BRW culture'. Predominant forms of BRW are bowls and small jars. Some were also painted using a white pigment to create designs with lines, dashes, dots, and latticed diamonds. It is important to note here that throughout the timeline of Indian history, BRW was widespread—spatially and temporally. It is also one of the markers of the Iron Age/Megalithic period in South India. Beyond the chronological sequence of the site, a key objective of the 1961 excavation was to understand the sociological background of the Chalcolithic society. And this was only possible because Sankalia excavated the site horizontally. While vertical excavation yields the chronology of a site, it can also disregard the horizontal relationships and spatial contexts necessary for sociological interpretation. According to archaeologist MK Dhavalikar, Sankalia was free from the vertical excavation syndrome of his time and could avoid this problem. The excavation revealed plinths of houses made of blocks of schist that used black and brown sticky soil as mortar. The walls of these houses were made of clay mixed with cow dung and quartz nodules, while the floors were prepared by firmly ramming the soil. According to the excavators Agrawal and Sankalia, the houses were large, often nine metres in length and partitioned into smaller rooms. Rectangular chullahs (earthen stoves) were found along with storage pots sunk into the floor. According to Dhavalikar, Ahar was the Tambavati Nagari—a settlement of copper metallurgists—indicating a flourishing copper smelting activity. This was further proven by the presence of heaps of slag at the site during the Chalcolithic phase. According to the excavators, both copper and iron were smelted at Ahar. Objects such as celts, rings, bangles, and knives were found. A metallographic study conducted by KTM Hegde on one of the axes shows that it was cast in a crude, unventilated sand or earth mould and was left in the cast condition. According to Hegde, the copper ores were extracted from Khetri mines in Rajasthan, suggesting that copper was sourced locally, from which objects were manufactured at Ahar. So, it was likely copper that attracted the inhabitants of the Banas valley thousands of years ago. Also read: Buddha's gems at Sotheby's shows Indian govt doesn't have an eye on 'colonial loot' Ahar culture Following Ahar, excavations were conducted at Gilund, Balathal, Ojiyana, and other sites. These excavations confirmed a strong presence of a distinct Chalcolithic complex in Rajasthan. They also suggested that the Ahar culture was likely the earliest agrarian–based culture in Rajasthan since the findings from Balathal and Gilund date as far back as the mid-fourth millenium BCE. In fact, at Gilund, the precursor of the Copper Age, characterised by microliths, was dated to around 5500 BCE. This timeline places these indigenous cultures at the same time as pre–Harappan sites such as Kot Diji in Sindh and the Ravi phase at Harappa itself. The Balathal excavation from 1993 to 2000 offered even more fascinating discoveries. Among them was the evidence of public architecture consisting of a fortified enclosure and a boundary wall around the settlement, indicative of organised community planning and defence strategy. Notably, a few burial sites were also found inside the fortified enclosure. Among these was an individual buried inside a stone enclosure bearing pathological markers of leprosy. This burial dates back to 2000 BCE, which makes it the earliest documented case of leprosy in India. In 2003, during the excavation at Gilund, one seal found was of utmost importance—it bore a striking similarity with the seals found at Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex sites in Central Asia. The similarity suggests possible cultural exchanges worth investigating. This legacy, therefore, offers a profound glimpse into the complex and technologically advanced society that mastered copper metallurgy and established domestic and long-distance cultural interactions. Despite these insights, there is a lingering sense that this barely scratches the surface. As archaeologist DK Chakrabarti rightly observed, we still understand very little about the authors of the Ahar culture. Future excavations and explorations may offer more clues about the lives of the people who were as mighty as the Harappans. They may have even played a crucial role in the rise of the Harappan civilisation. It is, therefore, all the more disheartening that this regional early culture remains absent from collective memory. Disha Ahluwalia is an archaeologist and junior research fellow at the Indian Council Of Historical Research. She tweets @ahluwaliadisha. Views are personal. (Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Construction Workers Were Building a Solar Plant—and Uncovered a 5,000-Year-Old Fortress
Ever since a large-scale Spanish solar plant project resulted in the discovery of Copper Age settlements in 2021, archaeologists have continued to mine the site for new discoveries. The latest major find at the site: details of a hilltop fortress once protected by three concentric walls. There's also a mysterious death, with the skeletal remains of a former soldier found face down amidst suspicious surroundings. A solar plant project that began in 2021 in Almendralejo, Spain, took an unexpected turn when workers discovered settlements from the Copper Age in the area. Since then, archaeologists have been reaping the rewards. Construction on the plant started in November of 2021 and quickly uncovered a set of settlements from the Chalcolithic era. The energy giant behind the plant, Acciona Energia, called in archaeologists who have since uncovered details of a 140,000-square-foot fortress on a hill—which included stone and adobe walls, three ditches over six feet deep, and a 27-inch wide entrance. The hilltop fortress, known as Cortijo Lobato, was only in use for 400 years, according to the study of the site as reported in El Pais. Archaeologists believe that, despite the highly fortified location that featured three concentric walls and 25 towers, enemies eventually managed to attack and destroy the pentagon-shaped fortress. At some point, the site also sustained a debilitating fire. 'One of the strongest indications that this was an intentional act is the burning of wooden doors embedded in the adobe walls,' said Cesar Perez, lead archaeologist, according to El Pais. 'These doors were far from other flammable materials, which suggests that the fire was not accidental, but rather the result of an assault on the fortification—a scene of violence and destruction in which the settlement was attacked, its defenses breached, and the structure ultimately set ablaze.' The fort, though, was once part of a larger community. 'These fortifications usually delimit a settlement or an area to monitor the surroundings,' Alicia Lizarraga, Acciona Energia's environment manager, said in a statement. 'Their purpose could be defensive, to protect the community and its resources from wild animals and from conflicts with other peoples.' Perez agreed. 'The sophistication of the defensive design and the need for a large workforce reinforce the idea of a structured and well-organized community,' Perez said, according to The Times. 'It had a violent end. We are seeing more and more in this type of site that the level of conflict in the Chalcolithic period was higher than previously thought.' The combination of both a moat and a wall was rare in the period, and the size was also impressive—twice as large as the only other similar site throughout Spain, according to Victoria Bazaga, the region's culture minister. Carbon dating of animal remains mixed into the fire's ashes put the fort's final demise around 2450 B.C.—well ahead of the next human interaction with the location, which came about 2,700 years later during the Late Roman Empire. In all, archaeologists located 11 sites: six ranging from the last centuries of the fourth millennium B.C. to the early centuries of the third millennium B.C., and another five spanning from the Bronze and Iron age to the Lower Roman Empire period. In the area where they found evidence of Roman-era habitation, crews also discovered a grave near a ditch—just one shallow burial of a man believed to be between 25 and 35 years old at the time of death. He was positioned face down, had his feet cut off and a sheathed dagger—known as a pugio— placed on his back. 'This suggests the individual may have had a military role, as the pugio was the standard dagger used by Roman legionnaires,' Perez said, adding that the act was likely hasty due to the shallowness of the grave. The obvious deliberateness of placing the dagger on his back 'is a way of indicating he was a member of the army and was given a dishonorable burial.' Perez said that only one Roman legion was stationed in Spain at the time: Legio VII Gemina. Established in 74 A.D., the legion was headquartered in modern-day Leon, and known to specialize in road surveillance and security. And, maybe, cutting off feet. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Jordan Times
22-02-2025
- Science
- Jordan Times
Umm Tuwayrat excavations reveal Bronze Age funerary practices
AMMAN — The Umm Tuwayrat site is a dolmen field probably related to the Bronze Age located near the city of Shobak. The site was first documented by Elżbieta Dubis, Mohammad Marahleh, and Sami Nawafleh in 2004. Jagiellonian University (JU) team included preparing a detailed geological map of the site's geological stratigraphy and lithology and the geological layers at this site span from the Late Cretaceous to the Palaeocene. To the east and west, the natural boundaries of the site were the valleys of two seasonal rivers. However, several stone structures identified during their search appear to be fragments of two stone walls that probably constituted the original symbolic boundaries of the site from the south and north, noted Marek Novak from JU, adding that within these borders were other stone structures including 12 dolmens and at least 10 stone circles or mounds. "The function of stone mounds and circles is often difficult to identify. Similar stone circles found throughout the Near East have been linked to a variety of activities [e.g. agricultural, cultic, funerary, land marking]," Novak said. "However, the rocky nature of the Umm Tuwayrat site makes it unsuitable for agriculture, therefore this activity can be ruled out as the original context of the stone structures," Novak underlined. He added that due to the funerary nature of the site, the stone circles were used in rituals or during preparation of corpses prior to secondary burial in the dolmens. Six out of 12 dolmens were well preserved, while the remaining dolmens were damaged. The structures reached up to 160 cm in height, 200 cm in width, and 300 cm in length, Novak said, adding that the goal of the fieldwork was to comprehensively document the structures and all the artefacts scattered on the surface in their vicinity, as well as to methodically explore the soil pockets and hollows around and inside the dolmens. The Polish team identified deposits resulting mostly from natural erosion processes, especially in the sloping part of the site. Only dolmen contained a thin soil layer that seemed to constitute the primary archaeological context for the artifacts and the deposited human remains. "In this context, the bones were found folded in a non-anatomical position, piled up inside the dolmen along one of its walls. In addition, several unidentified structures have been found at the site, the most intriguing being a rectangular pool and a well carved into the rock at the top of the hill," said Jacek Karmowski. Karmowski added that the chronological relationship between these structures and the dolmens remains elusive, and the pool and well may have been built at a later date. It remains unknown when dolmens were created. In general, little can be said about this assemblage beyond the fact that pottery fragments, ranging from the Chalcolithic/Early Bronze Age to the Byzantine period, were found near the dolmens and in their interiors. "The research brought to light 608 artefacts made of siliceous rock scattered among the dolmens. The majority, e.g. flakes and blades were difficult to assign to precise cultural or chronological groups, although some specimens appeared to be associated with the Bronze Age and, possibly, with the Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic," Karmowski elaborated. These included flakes with steep or semi-steep retouches on the edges transverse to the débitage axis and minor retouches on the sides, classified as inserts or sickle. The latter are considered to be more characteristic of the EB I, but they also occurred in Chalcolithic assemblages, although in smaller numbers. Only one unmistakable example of a tabular scraper was found but numerous flake tools of a similar type, commonly referred to as scrapers were present as well. Notably, the forms mentioned here have also been recorded in Neolithic contexts. "However, given the other finds at the site, including structures and pottery, these tools should be attributed to the Chalcolithic or the Bronze Age," Novak underscored, adding that the lithic assemblage also contained core bifacial tools, which rather seem attributable to the Chalcolithic.
Jordan Times
19-02-2025
- Jordan Times
Petra Authority launches new hiking trails to showcase Bedouin heritage, sustainable tourism
The Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority launches new hike aimed at promoting eco-tourism, cultural heritage (Photos by Ahmad Khlifat) PETRA — The Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) has introduced a new tourism route, celebrating its launch with an inaugural hike aimed at promoting eco-tourism, cultural heritage, and economic opportunities for the local Bedouin community. The Khurmah Trail is part of an extensive network of 27 hiking trails recently developed or rehabilitated by the PDTRA. According to Chief Commissioner of the PDTRA Fares Braizat, the initiative includes three trails within the Petra Archaeological Park, while 24 others extend beyond its boundaries. 'Today, we are hiking the trail of Khurmah, which takes almost a day and ends in a Bedouin tent, offering an authentic experience operated by the local community,' Braizat told The Jordan Times. The trail runs from Al-Rajef and Daghlah to Masoudah, where it is managed by the Jabal Masoudah Cooperative Association, a locally owned organisation dedicated to preserving Bedouin traditions and fostering economic growth. It leads to Beit Al Sa'idiyyin, a newly inaugurated cultural and hospitality hub, opened by the Chief Commissioner of the PDTRA on Monday. The event was attended by the Canadian Ambassador to Jordan Tarik Khan, the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Investment, Mohammed Habahbeh, the UNDP Resident Representative in Jordan, Randa Abu Hassan, and notable figures from the Daghlah region and local residents. Preserving heritage and locals through immersive hikes Beyond offering stunning landscapes and an immersive hiking experience, the trail initiative aims to support the local economy. 'One of the major contributions is the representation of Bedouin culture,' Braizat noted. 'The Bedouin heritage of Petra and Wadi Rum is recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2008, and we want to showcase it to the world as an immersive hospitality experience.' Visitors will not only visit Petra's breathtaking geological formations but also engage with Bedouin life, traditions, and hospitality. The initiative ensures that tourism directly benefits local communities, aligning with broader sustainable tourism goals. Khurmah Trail : a Journey through time The Khurmah Trail, spanning 14 kilometres, provides an adventure through diverse landscapes and historical sites. Starting from the village of Al-Rajef, 25 kilometres south of the Petra Visitor Centre, the hikers journey westward through the Samaan area before reaching the trailhead at Arqoub Al-Ghanimat. Along the way, they encounter remnants of Nabatean water systems, archaeological ruins, and stunning natural rock formations. Notable historical sites along the trail include Al-Munqata'a, a sating from the Chalcolithic period featuring ancient flint tools and pottery fragments, Wadi Khurmah, a valley known for its striking rock formations and Edomite-period artifacts, Jabal Qala'a, home to a Nabatean water reservoir, Qulai'ah, an Iron Age settlement from the 7th century BC showcasing fortifications and ancient pottery, and Al-Sada, a site revealing Palaeolithic and Nabatean habitation, with well-preserved homes and agricultural remnants. The trail concludes in Masoudah, where visitors can rest in a Bedouin tent and enjoy traditional Jordanian hospitality. 'Most of the trails that we have rehabilitated and now introduced to our visitors will be posted on our website 'Visit Petra'. Those hikes are suitable for children aged 10 and above. Families can enjoy the scenery and unique geological formations. They can also learn about the topography of Jordan and archaeology that extends beyond Petra,' Braizat told the Jordan Times. The Petra Authority's efforts in expanding its trail network reflect a commitment to eco-tourism, cultural preservation, and sustainable development. By integrating local communities into tourism initiatives, the project ensures that economic benefits are shared while offering visitors an enriching, authentic experience.
