KUTCH, Gujarat: More than 100 human skeletons have been discovered at an archaeological site near the Indo-Pak border in Kutch, revealing the remains of what researchers believe was once a thriving medieval settlement.
The discovery at the site, provisionally named Barbadgaon, has also yielded pottery, copper coins, terracotta objects and structural remains, offering new clues about life in the remote Kutch region centuries ago.
The site was initially mistaken for a deserted village. Further archaeological research, however, suggests that it was once home to an organised community.
BSF personnel first spotted the site
The archaeological site was first noticed by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel during routine patrols in 2023-24.
Unusual structural remains were scattered across the remote landscape near the Indo-Pak border. Because the area appeared deserted, BSF personnel referred to it as “Ujadagaon”, meaning deserted village.
Researchers later found evidence that told a very different story.
Archaeologists identified brick enclosures, paved surfaces, pottery and other domestic remains, suggesting that the area was once a settled and organised community.
More than 100 human skeletons discovered
The most striking discovery at Barbadgaon is a burial ground containing more than 100 human skeletons.
The organised nature of the burials has made the site particularly important for archaeological research. Scientists are studying the remains and burial area to better understand the community that lived in the region.
The excavation also produced several everyday objects, including terracotta rice hullers, oil lamps, storage jars, domestic pottery, terracotta toys and figurines, and copper coins.
These artefacts indicate that people living at the settlement were involved in domestic activities and food production.
How old is the Kutch archaeological site?
Preliminary evidence places Barbadgaon within the broader medieval cultural landscape of Kutch and the lower Indus region.
Initial estimates suggest that some of the remains may date back around 1,100 to 1,500 years. Researchers are continuing to establish the site’s exact chronology through further archaeological and scientific studies.
Other evidence indicates that the settlement may have been occupied mainly during the 11th to 14th centuries CE.
Further dating work will help researchers determine when the settlement was established, how long it remained occupied and why it was eventually abandoned.
KSKVK and Oxford researchers to conduct further studies
The site has been investigated by researchers from Kranti Guru Shyamji Krishna Verma Kachchh University (KSKVK) with assistance from the BSF.
Experts from the Physical Research Laboratory, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences and Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute have also examined the archaeological evidence.
The wider research effort includes collaboration involving the University of Oxford and ISRO.
Researchers now plan to carry out more detailed archaeological surveys and controlled excavations.
Ancient rivers may hold clues
One of the main objectives of the next phase of research is to understand the area’s ancient environment.
Scientists will study sediments and ancient river channels to determine whether a river once flowed close to the settlement.
Researchers also want to establish how changes in river flow, tidal conditions and tectonic activity affected human settlement in the region.
Geophysical surveys could help locate buried structures without excavating the entire site, while sediment studies may provide clues about the landscape in which the community lived.
Several other archaeological sites found nearby
The discovery at Barbadgaon is part of a wider archaeological picture emerging from the region.
Researchers have identified several other archaeological sites nearby, including Karahyo Pir, Koonjsor, Markhan and Kot Khori.
The concentration of sites suggests that the wider region attracted human settlements for thousands of years.
Researchers believe the area may have formed part of an important settlement and communication corridor that was used at different periods for more than four millennia.
The location could also provide new information about the historical frontier associated with the Indus and Hakra river systems and the Kori River-Dhoro Puran-Nara route.
Researchers caution against linking the site to the Harappan civilisation
Although several Harappan sites are located in the wider region, researchers have stressed that their proximity does not prove Harappan occupation at Barbadgaon.
More excavation and scientific analysis will be needed to establish the site’s precise history.
For now, the discovery of more than 100 human skeletons, along with evidence of a substantial settlement, is providing archaeologists with an unusual opportunity to investigate medieval life near the Indo-Pak border.
What was once viewed as a deserted landscape could ultimately reveal important details about settlement, burial practices, food production, trade, ancient waterways and everyday life in the Kutch-Indus frontier region.
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