Dynamics of Settlement Patterns in the Shekhawati Region of Rajasthan: Prehistoric to early historic periods with special reference to ancient mining and metal processing activities

This study enunciates the position of prehistoric to early historic settlement-patterns in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. It brings forth structure-inference concerning settlement location, function, distribution and trend in settlement density at a regional scale with a view to understanding ecological adaptation and cultural changes through prehistoric to early historic periods. The method of regional analysis has developed models for explaining economic and functional relations between settlements. Economic development is understood through analysing variations in style and technologies used for certain artefacts like ceramics, lithics and metals. Functional differences in terms of raw material resources, smelting sites, processing sites and possible interactions between these are adequately looked into.