This is the first recorded instance of Harappan remains being found in the Thar desert region, suggesting a significant expansion of the civilisation’s geographical footprint.
In a landmark archaeological breakthrough, remains of a 4,500-year-old Harappan (Indus Valley) civilisation have been discovered near the Pakistan border in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district.
The site, located at Ratadia Ri Deri, lies approximately 60 kilometers from Ramgarh tehsil and 17 kilometers northwest of the border village Sadewala.
The discovery was made through a collaborative effort involving Dilip Kumar Saini, a researcher in the Department of History and Indian Culture at Rajasthan University, historian Parth Jagani from Jaisalmer, Professor Jeevan Singh Kharkwal of Rajasthan Vidyapeeth, Udaipur, Dr Tamegh Panwar, and Dr Ravindra Devda from Rajasthan University, with support from local contributors Chatar Singh ‘Jam’ and Pradeep Kumar Garg of Ramgarh.
This is the first recorded case of Harappan remains being found in the Thar desert region, suggesting a significant expansion of the civilisation’s geographical footprint. The team has confirmed the authenticity of the site and submitted their research for publication in the Indian Journal of Science.
Artifacts found at the site point to a developed, urban Harappan settlement. Key discoveries include:
- Red and wheat-colored pottery, including bowls, pitchers, cups, and perforated jars
- Handmade pottery decorated with geometric patterns
- Blades (8–10 cm) made from chert stone, likely sourced from Rohri in present-day Pakistan
- Bangles made from clay and conch shells
- Terracotta cakes in triangular, circular, and idli-like shapes
- Stone mills, likely used for grinding and rubbing materials
- Wedge-shaped bricks, indicative of circular structures or furnaces
- Standard rectangular bricks, associated with Harappan urban planning
- A furnace structure with a central column, comparable to those found at Kanmer (Gujarat) and Mohenjodaro (Pakistan)
- Remains of ancient walls, suggesting organized construction and layout
