Current Context : A new Harappan site has been discovered at Ratadiya Ri Dheri in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. It is the first Indus Valley Civilization site found in the state’s desert region.

ABOUT RATADIYA RI DHERI

• Location: Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
• Period: Belongs to the urban phase of the Indus Valley Civilization (2600–1900 BC)
• Type: A planned settlement from 4,500 years ago

Significance

• Bridges the gap between older Harappan sites in northern Rajasthan and Gujarat
• Adds to the archaeological knowledge of Harappan expansion into desert areas

OTHER INDUS VALLEY SITES IN RAJASTHAN

• Kalibangan:
  • Located in northern Rajasthan
  • Established around 2900 BC
  • Discovered by Italian Indologist Luigi Pio Tessitori
  • Known for town planning and fire altars