Balathal Archaeological Site

Balathal is an archaeological site of the Ahar-Banas Culture located in Vallabhnagar tehsil of Udaipur district, Rajasthan. The site was occupied during two cultural periods: Chalcolithic (3000-1500 BC) and Early Historic (500-200 BC). Excavations revealed fortified settlements, multi-roomed mud-brick structures, copper implements, and burial sites containing the oldest evidence of leprosy in the Indian subcontinent.

Visitors can explore excavation trenches and earthen mounds at this archaeological site. The site features exposed structural remains including fortification walls, dwelling foundations, ovens, and pottery kilns from the Chalcolithic period. The terrain consists of excavated areas showing ancient settlement patterns near the Katar River banks.

Balathal is one of ninety Ahar-Banas culture sites in the Banas River basin. The site was discovered by V.N. Misra during a survey in 1962-63 and excavated from 1994 to 2000 jointly by Deccan College Post-graduate and Research Institute, Pune and Institute of Rajasthan Studies, Udaipur. The Chalcolithic phase (3000-1500 BC) shows well-planned structures with trade connections to Harappan Gujarat. After abandonment, the site was reoccupied during the Early Historic period (500-200 BC) with evidence of iron technology and advanced agriculture.

The site provides crucial evidence for understanding early farming communities in Central India and the Ahar-Banas culture. The discovery of a 2700-year-old skeleton in meditative samadhi position represents the oldest archaeological skeletal evidence of yoga practice. The site also yielded the earliest known evidence of leprosy in humans, dated to 2500-2000 BC.