In a find that could potentially rewrite our knowledge of early human habitation in central India altogether, Nagpur University researchers discovered what they thought was the remains of a virtually 3,000-year-old civilization in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district. Excavation was done at Pachkhed village, under the Babulgaon taluka, for the 2023–2024 academic year. This gigantic project was overseen by Dr. Prabash Sahu, Chairman of Nagpur University’s Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology. The findings show the presence of a settlement from the Iron Age—one of the oldest but previously unrecorded here.
Unearthing ancient settlements in Maharashtra’s heartland
The prime site of excavation was a mound situated just beyond Pachkhed village. In archaeology, mounds commonly describe zones of long human settlement, in which soil and rubbish of a cultural nature accumulate over centuries or millennia. The mound excavated presently produced a cultural deposit measuring around 8.73 meters in thickness, indicating a multi-period and extensive occupation. Excavation technique consisted of a keen observation of stratified layers, enabling researchers to recognize multiple phases of occupation through depth, type of soil, and kind of artefacts.
Unveiling the layers of Maharashtra’s rich history
At excavation, the researchers were able to identify four distinct periods of culture engulfed by the mound. The earliest and most important of these is the Iron Age, which represents the base layer of the settlement. This period was dated on artefacts such as iron instruments and certain classes of pottery that were characteristic of Iron Age societies in other regions of India. Academics also broke this phase into sub-phases to track material culture through the ages.
After the Iron Age, the site registers habitation during the Satavahana period, when the Satavahana dynasty inhabited the Deccan plateau, from about the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century CE. Artefacts of this era included ceramic shapes and other artefacts typical of this transformative period in history.
The third cultural phase is the Medieval phase, in which the settlement contains evidence of reuse or reoccupation. Although this phase yielded fewer artefacts, their presence was sufficient to position it within the chronological sequence of the site. The highest occupation level was dated to the Nizam period, which indicates that the mound was subsequently reused as a watchtower during the 18th to 20th century, when the area was occupied by the Nizam of Hyderabad.
Architecture of early settlements
One of the most interesting features of this excavation is the light it sheds on ancient buildings. The excavators found remains of round houses, a shape common with early agrarian and tribal communities. The houses featured limestone floors, which indicate some planning and stability in building. Wooden posts had been inserted around the perimeter of the houses, probably to frame organic material roofs such as thatch or wood.
In these buildings, archaeologists found beautifully preserved elements of home life. One of the notable finds was a full house plan with a chulha or mud oven, which suggested that there was a dedicated cooking space in the house. This dig lends itself easily to a vision of the daily lives of the ancient inhabitants, bringing physical form to the way people lived, cooked, and very likely socialized in these houses.
Artifacts that tell the story of ancient life
The artifacts uncovered at the site were informative and varied. The layers contained different styles and textures of pottery, tracing the cultural chronology of the site. Iron tools and artefacts confirmed the community’s exposure to and utilization of metal, tracing a technological shift that characterizes the Iron Age anywhere. Furthermore, the group learned about beads made of semi-precious stones and terracotta beads, which possibly were being utilized for ornamentation or trading. Bone artifacts were also found, indicating that remains of animals were being made use of in everyday life, perhaps for tools or symbolism.
These artifacts collectively reveal a society that was not merely technologically advanced but was also involved in craft, trade, and perhaps ritualistic practices. The occurrence of beads here, especially, can be seen to reflect involvement in broader trading circles or cultural exchange with the outside world.
Scientific analysis will confirm the site’s 3,000-year age
Although the artefacts and environment indicate a 3,000-year-old age for the initial layer of the site, laboratory confirmation is in progress. To reach a correct timeline, the research team has forwarded organic samples to the Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) in New Delhi. Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) dating, a highly precise technique employed to estimate the age of ancient materials by measuring carbon isotope decay, will be carried out by the IUAC. The outcome of dating is expected to be published in May or June 2025. These would turn out to be vital for verifying the premise that the lower levels of the mound from the early Iron Age actually contain them. Dr. Sahu says that he will then be able to confirm the date of 3,000 years beyond any doubt once he receives the data from scientific measurements.
If the date of the initial timeline is confirmed, then this dig may be one of the oldest known Iron Age settlements in Vidarbha. This discovery would greatly add to the archaeological history of central India, particularly in regions that have not been so well-researched such as regions like the Gangetic plain or Indus Valley.
Also Read | What is the ‘green nail theory’? A trend turning nails into tools for manifesting prosperity
