Describe the Ahar civilization.

Ahar Civilization is presently located in Udaipur district of Rajasthan and was the centre of Bronze age culture.

This 5000-year-old civilization was developed in the valley of Bechad- Banas rivers. Various excavations show that civilization witnessed many settlements that were built and destroyed. This is attributed to the abundant availability of copper in this area which led people living here to engage in the production of metallic tools, making it a copper-skilled centre. The main centre of the civilization is found to be at the mound of Dhulkor where many copper axes, tools and semi-precious tools were found.

Houses were planned with an open courtyard in the middle and rooms surrounding it. Excavations revealed 4-6 altars in a house that indicated the joint family system and a hint towards community lunches. There have also been finds of earthen pots and baked clay bricks.

A viable extension of this civilization is evident from the near-by places such as Gilund, Balathal, Bagaur, etc which are connected to it. Indications of relations with surrounding areas of Navadatoli, Nagda, Eran, Kaitha till Kuchchh in North Gujarat are also hinted at, dating back to about 4000 years. Black and red earthen pots found here have similarity in skill, size and manufacturing to Ahar, which provide firm links to their connectivity.

Thus, the Ahar civilization is said to be an important copper-based civilization that was an extended part of the Indus-Saraswati Civilization.