Navdatoli, Maheshwar - Timings, History, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 24 km from Maheshwar, Navdatoli is an archaeological site located in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh. Situated on the opposite side of the shores of River Narmada, it is one of the important places of heritage near Indore, and among the top places of sightseeing in Maheshwar.

Discovered in 1950, it is regarded as a pre-historic site, which used to be the home for the various cultures starting from the Paleolithic period till the 18th century. The third period of occupation has been dated between 1500 BC and 1200 BC. Artifacts such as painted pottery of a forgotten age as well as many microliths were found on this site during the excavation. The site was excavated between 1957 and 1959 over two seasons.

The ruins of the ancient houses found here were either rectangle in shape or circular of around 3 m in circumference. These houses had bamboo walls and the roof was made of mud. Most houses had a fireplace and a stone slab that was used for grinding and mashing grain. Pottery of varying styles including Malwa, Jorwe, Black and Red Ware, Cream-Slipped Ware, and Grey-Ware were also commonly found within the houses. Similarities between Navdatoli pottery and certain Iranian ceramics have led some to believe the area was colonized by immigrants from the Northwest. It is estimated that on average roughly 150 individuals lived in the village in its earliest stage. Evidence of domestic animals including Indian cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and dogs were also found.
During the excavation, over 30,000 blades, cores, and flakes were found at the site, leading archaeologists to believe the site was a production area for lithic tools. Nearly all of the tools were made of chalcedony from the nearby Narmada River. The same method of production was used throughout the occupation of the site and it appears that each household made their own tools. Blades found at Navdatoli were often longer than those found at other sites within the same period.

One can reach Navdatoli by bus or by boat from Maheshwar.

Timings: 6 AM - 5 PM

Entry: Free