Jaipur: Union minister for culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Jaipur Circle to immediately begin refilling the exposed excavation trenches at the archaeological site in Bahaj village, Deeg district, to prevent further monsoon-related damage.Shekhawat’s directions follows TOI’s July 10 report titled “Bureaucratic Limbo: Monsoon Threatens Deeg Archaeological Site”, which highlighted the absence of protective measures at the site, where over 4,500 artefacts—dating back to the Paleolithic, Copper, and Iron Ages—were uncovered during a significant excavation.The site suffered its first spell of damage on June 22, when rainwater filled trenches up to two metres deep, putting the area in acute danger and raising concerns over the preservation of unearthed artefacts.Responding to TOI, Shekhawat acknowledged the archaeological significance of the site and confirmed that preventive measures are now underway. He said, the ASI’s Jaipur Circle briefed the Director General, ASI, and that the backfilling of trenches is already in progress, with completion expected in two to four days.“Some trenches were intentionally left open for collecting soil and charcoal samples for scientific analysis. All trenches are now being systematically refilled,” he told TOI.Shekhawat also noted the challenges of long-term preservation. He said, “The site at Bahaj is archaeologically important but lies amid residential houses in the village. Therefore, permanent protection and preservation are not feasible without the rehabilitation or relocation of the settlement.”He added that the antiquarian material recovered can be properly showcased either at the Deeg Palace or in a future museum, once the excavation report is completed.The ASI was excavating the site for nearly a year, with work concluding only recently. However, the area has not been notified as a protected site under ASI, leaving it exposed to weather, encroachment, and human interference. When the matter was referred to the Rajasthan Department of Archaeology and Museums, the response was equally non-committal, as the site is not listed under state-protected monuments either.
