Research Paper
Rescue Excavation at Pachamta, an Ahar Chalcolithic Site in Rajasthan: A New Understanding of Administration
Authors: Prabodh Shirvalkar, Esha Prasad, Teresa Raczek & Lalit Pandey
Year: 2025, Volume: 16, Page/Article: 91-120, DOI: https://doi.org/10.47509/AA.2025.v16i.7
Abstract
This paper presents the findings of rescue excavations conducted at Pachamta, one of three sites investigated as part of the Mewar Plain Archaeological Assessment (MPAA) in Rajasthan, India. Faced with imminent destruction due to developmental activities, Pachamta revealed a stratified occupation with a thin Early Historic layer overlying substantial remains of the Ahar Chalcolithic culture (c. 3200-1700 BCE). Excavations unearthed a parallel-walled structure or compartmented building, along with associated platforms and bins, exhibiting multiple construction phases roughly dated 2000-1900 BCE (Late Ahar Banas period). The ceramic assemblage is characteristic of the Ahar culture, featuring White Painted Black and Red Ware as a diagnostic type, alongside other wares and decorative techniques. Comparative analysis of the Pachamta structure with a similar, earlier (Middle Ahar Banas period) structure at Gilund, another Ahar site, suggests a potential shift in administrative power within the Mewar region during the later phases of the Chalcolithic period. This research contributes to understanding the socio-political dynamics of the Ahar Chalcolithic culture, highlighting the role of administration over time. The rescue excavation underscores the critical role of such projects in salvaging crucial archaeological data from sites threatened by modern development.
Keywords: Ahar Chalcolithic, Parallel-Walled Structure, Late Ahar Phase, Ceramic analysis, socio-political dynamics, Rescue excavations