In the landscape of Indian archaeology, the Vidarbha region often goes unrecognised despite being home to sites that trace human habitation from the Mesolithic period to the early medieval era. This part of eastern Maharashtra has quietly produced a wealth of evidence through controlled excavations, surface finds, and documented surveys by institutions such as the Archaeological Survey of India and Deccan College.

The distribution of megalithic burials, early urban settlements, Buddhist religious centres, and copper-plate inscriptions speaks to the layered complexity of Vidarbha’s cultural history. Many of these sites predate the Mauryan empire and offer insights into the economic, social, and religious dynamics that once shaped the region.

Excavated material from these areas includes iron tools, punch-marked coins, Buddhist stupa remains, and seals bearing Prakrit inscriptions. Despite their historical value, these discoveries often remain outside the mainstream discourse on India’s ancient heritage.

The findings listed below are not speculative but based on documented research. Together, they map a broad arc of occupation and activity in Vidarbha, spanning over 10,000 years.

1. Adamgarh Hills – Microlithic Tools Near the Vidarbha Border

The Adamgarh Hills site, located on the Madhya Pradesh–Vidarbha border near Betul and Amravati, has yielded microlithic tools that indicate a human presence dating back to the Mesolithic period. While technically outside present-day Maharashtra, its geographical and cultural proximity to Amravati has made it relevant in studies on the prehistoric spread across Vidarbha. Archaeologists have found stone blades made of quartz and chert, associated with early hunter-gatherer societies.

These microliths are dated to around 8000 BCE and have been uncovered in stratified contexts. Later occupation layers have revealed evidence of Neolithic transitions, including early ceramics and signs of domestication. Adamgarh’s contribution to regional prehistory was first noted in the works of archaeologist V.S. Wakankar and later confirmed by ASI studies. Though overshadowed by larger excavation sites in Central India, the finds here offer early proof of human settlement bordering Vidarbha.

2. Mendha and Gaurala – Megalithic Burials in Chandrapur

In Chandrapur district, the twin sites of Mendha and Gaurala have revealed a complex burial landscape characteristic of megalithic culture. These include circular stone burials and associated artefacts such as iron implements, beads, and red-and-black pottery.

The sites are situated along the Wainganga River and are dated roughly between 1000 BCE and 300 CE. Excavations led by the ASI have shown a clear stratigraphic context and evidence of secondary burials, suggesting ritualistic practices. Iron slag found at the site supports the interpretation of a metal-working community with access to regional trade networks. The burial pattern here bears a similarity to megalithic practices found across peninsular India. These sites continue to provide key insights into Iron Age societies that lived in forested zones of eastern Vidarbha.

3. Pauni – Satavahana-Era Stupas and Trade Indicators

Pauni, located in Bhandara district, is regarded as one of Vidarbha’s most prominent early historic sites due to its Buddhist stupas and urban layout. Excavations at Jagannath Tekri and other mounds have unearthed remnants of stupa railings, sculptural fragments, punch-marked coins, and even Roman coinage. The presence of such coins points to long-distance trade during the Satavahana period, likely between the 1st century BCE and 2nd century CE.

Archaeologist M.N. Deshpande’s work in the 1960s confirmed that Pauni functioned as a Buddhist centre, complete with monastery structures and votive stupas. The location along the Wainganga River would have facilitated access to trade routes leading to central and southern India. Pauni’s scale and architectural planning reflect its status as an urban settlement under Satavahana influence, distinct from the smaller village sites in the region.

4. Bhagimohari – Early Historic Urban Settlement Near Nagpur

Bhagimohari, a lesser-known site in Nagpur district, offers evidence of urban planning from the pre-Mauryan and early Mauryan periods. Excavations have revealed residential structures made of mud and brick, Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW), copper objects, and punch-marked coins. These artefacts are dated to the period between 600 BCE and 200 BCE. The site’s location near the Kanhan River and the Pench basin appears to have supported agriculture and regional trade.

Bhagimohari was excavated in the 1980s under the supervision of A.K. Sharma and other ASI archaeologists. Stratigraphic evidence supports continuous occupation over several centuries, highlighting the site’s role in Vidarbha’s early historic trajectory. It is one of the few settlements in the region that presents a transition from rural to proto-urban life.

5. Takalghat-Khapa – Iron Smelting and Megalithic Practices

The sites of Takalghat and Khapa, situated in the Saoner tehsil of Nagpur district, have yielded evidence of iron production and megalithic burial customs. Excavated in the 1980s, these sites produced red ware pottery, iron slag, burial urns, and well-constructed stone circles. The archaeological material suggests that the settlements belonged to Iron Age communities from approximately 1000 BCE. The scale of iron slag found in the area indicates an organised system of smelting and weapon manufacturing. Scholars have noted similarities between the artefacts at Takalghat-Khapa and those in the Vidarbha–Andhra Megalithic belt. These sites have contributed to understanding the technological skills of early Vidarbha communities and their funerary customs.

6. Lohara – Fort Remains and Yadava-Era Artefacts

In the Buldhana district, the site of Lohara includes the remains of a medieval fort and nearby structures associated with the Yadava dynasty. Archaeologists and state heritage surveys have recorded copper plate inscriptions, terracotta figurines, and coins dating from the 9th to 14th centuries CE. Though Lohara has not been excavated on a large scale, surface finds and structural remains suggest its role as a regional administrative node. The inscriptions found here are written in Sanskrit and record land grants to Brahmins and temples. These finds place Lohara within the broader political framework of the Yadava rule over parts of Vidarbha before the region came under the Delhi Sultanate. The site reflects a continuity of settlement through medieval times, with a shift towards fortified administrative complexes.

7. Deulgaon Raja – Satavahana Coin Hoards and Urban Traces

Located in the Buldhana district, Deulgaon Raja has yielded coins attributed to the Satavahana dynasty, along with brick structural remains and terracotta figures. Although the site has not undergone full excavation, surveys by local archaeologists have consistently documented surface artefacts pointing to early urban activity. The coins feature names like Gautamiputra Satakarni and reflect circulation during the 1st to 2nd centuries CE. The architectural remnants suggest planned construction using standardised bricks, typical of Satavahana urban centres. Terracotta figurines recovered from the site are similar in form to those from Junnar and Nashik, other Satavahana-era settlements. The evidence implies that Deulgaon Raja functioned as a smaller satellite town in the larger political and religious network that stretched across Vidarbha.

8. Sirpur – Brick Foundations of a Buddhist Site in Gondia

In the Gondia district, the site of Sirpur has revealed remains of what is believed to be a Buddhist monastery from the Vakataka period. Brick foundations, copper artefacts, and terracotta seals have been recovered through surveys conducted by local heritage teams and documented by the ASI. The bricks follow proportions common in Gupta-Vakataka construction practices, dated to the 4th and 5th centuries CE. The seals bear inscriptions in Brahmi script and likely identify monastic affiliations or donors. Sirpur’s location along ancient riverine routes may have facilitated its use as a rest point for travelling monks. The site is distinct from Chhattisgarh’s more famous Sirpur, yet contributes uniquely to Vidarbha’s Buddhist archaeological footprint.

9. Borgaon – Vakataka-Era Inscriptions and Housing Remains

Borgaon, situated in the Wardha district, is known for its Vakataka copper plate inscriptions and remains of brick housing complexes. The artefacts include punch-marked coins, drain systems, and fragments of ceramic ware. Inscriptions found at Borgaon are in Prakrit and record land donations, further situating the site within the administrative structure of the Vakataka kingdom. The layout of dwellings, supported by archaeological mapping, reveals planned architecture with basic civic amenities. Borgaon has been linked to nearby Pravarapura, the Vakataka capital, by multiple historians due to architectural and epigraphic parallels. The artefacts from the site highlight both civic planning and religious patronage during the 4th to 6th centuries CE in Vidarbha.

10. Markanda – Religious Structures with Vakataka Influence

Markanda in Gadchiroli district is best known for the Markandeshwar Temple, but the surrounding archaeological context reveals much older layers of habitation. ASI surveys have identified Gupta and Vakataka-period structural remains, brick platforms, ritual enclosures, and coins. The Markanda complex is built near the Wainganga River and features design elements similar to those at Mansar and Ramtek, both Vakataka-influenced sites. While the current temple dates from the later medieval period, the earlier archaeological layer has been partially exposed through small-scale digs and has yielded artefacts including terracotta seals. The area likely functioned as a religious site of regional importance linked to trade and pilgrimage routes crossing Vidarbha.

The archaeological finds across Vidarbha reveal a region that hosted continuous and diverse human activities for thousands of years. From microlithic tool-making near Amravati to Buddhist monastic networks in Gondia, the material evidence suggests a robust historical landscape shaped by shifting dynasties, trade systems, and religious institutions.

These sites, though varying in scale and period, challenge simplistic narratives of Vidarbha as a peripheral zone in Indian history. What emerges instead is a layered and interconnected network of communities engaged in agriculture, metallurgy, worship, and trade across multiple timeframes. The presence of inscriptions, urban planning features, and burial systems provides a wealth of data for historical reconstruction. These finds are not just artefacts, they are windows into centuries of cultural transformation across eastern Maharashtra.