Early Historic sites of Rajasthan :

The Early Historic sites of Rajasthan belong to Pre-Mauryan, Mauryan, Sunga, Kushana and Gupta periods. A total 119 Early Historic sites are known from Rajasthan. Only small numbers of sites have been excavated and none of them excavated at very large scale. Few published excavation reports are the chief source of information of Early Historic archaeology of Rajasthan. Important excavated Early Historic Sites of Rajasthan are Noh, Jodhpura, Sambhar, Bairat, Nagar, Balathal, Ahar etc. Except the northeastern part of the state, where there is a continuity of habitation from OCP  ( Ochre Coloured Pottery ) culture to the Gupta period or even beyond.

Noh : Archaeological site Noh is situated about 6.43km west of Bharatpur district of Rajasthan. The Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Rajasthan, under Shri R.C. Agrawall, in collaboration with the Art Department, University of California, under Professor J. Le. Roy Davidson, undertook excavation at Noh.

The NBP ( Northern Black Polished Ware ) has a strikingly polished surface and a lustrous, almost metallic, finish, ranging in colour from coal black through steel grey or silvery grey to golden. PGW  ( Painted Grey Ware culture ) is present in the lower levels but disappears in the upper levels. The other ceramic industry is Red Ware. Other finds from this period include uninscribed cast coins, copper bangles and terracotta human and animal figurines bearing pinch marks or notched circlets, the most important being an elephant with incisions all over the body, a seal bearing pinch marks or notched circlets, the most important being an elephant with incisions all over the body, a seal bearing an inscription ‘Dhuvamitasa’ in Brahmi letters, beads of terracotta, glass, ivory and stone and a steatite casket.Three structural phases were identified in this period.

Jodhpura : The Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Rajasthan, undertook excavation at Jodhpura located about 98km from Jaipur on Jaipur-Delhi highway. Important finds of this period include  iron arrow heads and nails, shell bangle, terracotta humped bull and stone bead. Period is represented by Sunga Kushana pottery. The common shapes are bowl, lid cumbowl, and lipped bowl with small spouted channel. Some sherds are stamped withtriratna and Swastika symbols. Other finds of the period comprise iron implements, a terracotta ghata shaped bead, a stone bead and a copper coin. Nothing was known about the architecture of these periods because limited excavation.

Sambhar : The site of Sambhar or Sakambhari was the first capital of the Chauhan kings of North India but excavations by D.R. Sahni have revealed that the history of site goes back to at least 2nd century BC.Find remains of brick structures and many antiquities which included bone spikes, shell bangles, beads of faience and etched beads of Carnelian, terracotta figurines of human and animals, punch marked coins of copper and a terracotta seal with seven impressions. The largest facet of the seal displays a yupa or sacrificial pillar and a legend Brahmi character of 2nd century BC which reads Indasamasa, ‘of Indrasraman’. The excavations at Sambhar yielded rich material culture but the finds are not described period wise. The major components are described briefly as follows. About 200 coins, including six silver punch marked coins, were found. They help in dating the various structures and antiquities.  Among other terracotta objects are flesh rubbers of circular and square shapes, pottery crucibles, suspension lamps, potters’ dabbers or mallets, with potters’ names written in ink or incised with a style; and children’s feeders with one or two spouts, and so called spindle whorls which were found at all levels, and a clay model house which is a rare object.

Bairat : The small site covering an area of not more than 400ft by 190ft, has yielded an unexpectedly rich archaeological remains of the Mauryan Period and those immediately succeeding it. The principle monuments brought to light are numerous remnants of two Ashoka pillars, a temple of an entirely new type and a monastery both of which latter monuments must have been erected by Ashoka himself. An interesting feature of this excavation is the total absence among the finds of anthropomorphic representation of the Buddha in any form or material, which is in full accord with the view that the Buddha image was not evolved until about 2nd century AD .

Nagara : Nagara is the name of small fortified town and also of very extensive khera or mound, representing an ancient city, adjoining the former, and embracing an area of nearly 6 sq. km. The town and mound were originally located in the Jaipur state but are now a part of the Tonk district. They lie to the east of Karkota range of hills, about 24km to the south-west of Uniyara and about 40km to the south-east of Tonk. On the majority of the coins are found the Buddhist symbols of the Bodhi tree, the Buddhist railing, and the chakra or wheel symbol. On the most ancient coins, the Bodhi tree is represented in an erect position, with the Buddhist railing.

Balathal : Balathal is located 40km northeast of Udaipur on the eastern margin of modern village. Extensive excavations were carried out by the Department of Archaeology, Deccan College Pune and the Institute of Rajasthan Studies, Rajasthan Vidyapeeth. Excavation at Balathal revealed a Chalcolithic period stretching from 3000 to 1500 BC and an Early Historic period dated to 5th - 3rd century BC. One meter thick sterile layer which separates the Chalcolithic and Early Historic periods. Early Historic settlers at the site occupied a much smaller area than the Chalcolithic people and their settlement was confined to southern and western part of the mound.

Ahar : The site of Ahar is situated near Udaipur in Rajasthan. The site was excavated by R.C. Agrawal of the Rajasthan state department. At Ahar Chalcolithic phase was succeeded by the Early Historic period. The pottery of Early Historic period is mostly plain and technically of poor quality. It consist mainly Red, Grey and Black and Red ware mostly carinated bowls occur.