Balathal is a renowned archaeological site close to Kataranadi River which is situated in Vallabhnagar tehsil of Udaipur District, Rajasthan. As per the accounts of certain archaeologists, there existed yet another water body near Balathal which is presently completely dry. This ancient archaeological site is based at a distance of about 42 kms away from Udaipur and 6 kms away from Vallabhnagar town. V.N. Mishra had found this site while he was conducting a survey in the period between 1962 and 1963. The Institute of Rajasthan Studies, Department of Archaeology of the Deccan College Post-graduate and Research Institute and Rajasthan Vidyapeeth, Udaipur conducted excavations at this very site from the years 1994 till 2000 under the supervision of V. N. Misra of Deccan College.
Balathal was inhabited during the two cultural eras including the Early Historic Period and Chalcolithic Period. There are certain evidences which indicate that Balathal was isolated some years after its most ancient time of occupation. The homes discovered here are square or rectangular in shape and are composed of wattle and daub, stone and mud bricks. It has been proved that the residents of this ancient region had once practised various farming activities and herded animals.
Different types of pottery wares have been unearthed from this spot which have revealed many interesting ways in which they lived their lives, and the customs and rituals followed by them. Balathal is a portion of the Ahar-Banas Complex which is linked to several other areas of Ahar-Banas culture sites, as suggested by the artefacts found from this region. Certain pottery items of Balathal was manufactured regionally and other kinds of pottery-ware have been discovered from Ahar, Ojiyana, Gilund, Marmi which also belong to the Complex of Ahar-Banas. Certain skeletal remains have also been found.
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