Pandu Rajar Dhibi

Excavations

The site was first excavated by Paresh Chandra Dasgupta in 1954-57. While Pandu Rajar Dhibi was the first Chalcolithic or Copper Age site to be discovered, a number of other sites have been discovered in an area spread over the districts of Birbhum, Bardhaman, Bankura and Midnapore, and interspersed by rivers Brahmani, Mayurakshi, Kopai, Ajay, Kunur, Damodar, Dwarakesvar, Shilabati, and Rupnarayan later in 1962 to 63 the archaeology department of West Bengal excavated some areas of Ajay, Kunur, Kopay in Birbhum and Bardhaman district through this excavation the archaeologists found some elements of ancient civilizations that was existed in 1500 BCE the excavated site nearest the South Bank of a river origin name as Rajar dhibi as The Scholars found its main Mound associate with the "Pandu Raja" mentioned in the Mahabharata .

There were two main periods – the Chalcolithic period around 1600 BC – 750 BC, and the Iron Age.

The people and their culture

As to the artists of the Chalcolithic culture of Bengal, we are in the dark. From an examination of skeletal remains (14-male, female & children) it appears that they were long-headed and medium to tall in height.

There was perhaps a brisk maritime trade in Chalcolithic Bengal, but sufficient evidence is not available. Certainly, the river Ajay and its tributaries meeting the Bhagirathi river were navigable at that time. The excavation at Pandu Rajar Dhibi has provided evidence for the gradual growth of a Chalcolithic culture and its displacement by iron-using people. There is evidence of a great conflagration in period III, which may be considered as the transitional period. The transition perhaps led to the exit of the Chalcolithic culture and entrance of the Iron Age.

Significance

The excavations at Pandu Rajar Dhibi reveal the origin of the Bengalis. The Copper Age civilisation in eastern India but also distant lands such as Crete and the Mediterranean lands. They were predominantly a seafaring people.