Dihar (archaeological site)
| Location | Dihar, West Bengal, India |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 23°07′10″N 87°22′00″E / 23.11944°N 87.36667°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Founded | 2700 BCE |
| Abandoned | Medieval/Late Medieval (Malla) |
| Cultures | Neolithic and Early village farming culture |
| Events | not known |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1983–84, 1984–85, 1993–94, 2008–09 and 2012–13 |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Ownership | Public |
| Public access | Yes |
Dihar is an archaeological site of Neolithic and Early village farming culture located in the Indian state of West Bengal. Construction of the settlement is believed to have started around 2700 BC. Dihar people developed a system of exploitation of natural resources and subsequent commercialization of commodities (prehistoric exchange system). The financial security afforded by this system encouraged artistic excellence in pottery making (which surely entails an appreciation of created forms) and bone-working.
The prehistoric settlement at Dihar village was discovered in 1983 by the University of Calcutta's Department of Archaeology. Excavations at Dihar were carried out in two phase, the first phase was conducted in 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1993–94 and the second phase in 2008–09 and 2012–13.
Bowls, black-red pottery and miniature vessels were discovered during the excavations. Human skeletal remains have also been found in the excavations.