RAS question
Balathal, an important Chalcolithic settlement of the Ahar-Banas culture in Rajasthan, is located near which city?
Correct answer: (D) Udaipur.
Balathal, a Chalcolithic settlement of the Ahar-Banas culture in Rajasthan, is located near Udaipur.
Explanation
Balathal is near Udaipur because the site is placed in Vallabhnagar tehsil of Udaipur district, about 42 km from Udaipur. Its importance comes from its Chalcolithic phase, dated to c. 3000-1500 BCE and identified as part of the Ahar-Banas complex. The excavations revealed a fortified settlement with evidence of copper smelting, agriculture, including wheat and lentils, and animal husbandry. The settlement was agro-pastoral, meaning its economy combined farming with herding animals. That mix of location, period, material culture and subsistence pattern is why Balathal is a standard Ahar-Banas culture site for Rajasthan ancient-history questions.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Jodhpur is wrong because Balathal is in Vallabhnagar tehsil of Udaipur district, not near Jodhpur.
- (B) Bikaner is wrong because Balathal belongs to the Udaipur district location given for the Ahar-Banas site, not to north-western Rajasthan around Bikaner.
- (C) Jaipur is wrong because the location evidence identifies Balathal with Vallabhnagar tehsil near Udaipur, not the Jaipur region.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan ancient history through the site-culture-location mapping of the Chalcolithic Ahar-Banas culture. It recurs in RAS-style preparation because archaeological sites are often asked through their nearest city, district or cultural phase.