Dholbaha is a village of the district Hoshiarpur in Punjab, India. Dholbaha is an archaeological site which is known for the discovery of stone sculptures, architectural fragments, fossil remains, and stone tools recovered from the Shivalik foothills region.
Geography and history Dholbaha is located in the Shivalik foothills, a geographically significant zone known for sedimentary formations and erosion patterns that preserve archaeological material. The surrounding region of Hoshiarpur has yielded a range of antiquities including prehistoric stone tools and fossil remains, as well as later cultural materials associated with early historic and medieval periods.
Archaeological material from Dholbaha reflects multiple layers of occupation or use. Stone tools and fossil remains are associated with prehistoric activity in the broader Shivalik region, while carved stone sculptures and architectural fragments suggest the presence of structured religious activity during the early medieval period (c. 8th–11th century CE). These sculptures are stylistically linked to North Indian temple art traditions.
Material findings and preservation + Archaeological material from Dholbaha Category Description Period (approx.) Current status Stone tools Lithic artifacts from Shivalik deposits Prehistoric Documented in regional archaeological records Fossil remains Fossilized material from sedimentary layers Prehistoric Preserved in museum collections Sculptures Sandstone Hindu iconographic sculptures c. 8th–11th century CE Archaeological Museum, Hoshiarpur Architectural fragments Carved stone temple components Early medieval Evidence of religious structures Religious artifacts Fragmentary iconographic remains Early medieval–medieval Found in surrounding region
Artifacts recovered from Dholbaha are primarily housed in the Archaeological Museum, Hoshiarpur, which serves as the main repository for archaeological material from the region. The collection includes sculptures, architectural fragments, and prehistoric material representing the cultural sequence of the Shivalik foothills.
Conservation and research status Dholbaha has been documented as an archaeologically significant site in Hoshiarpur district and is noted for discoveries dating from prehistoric to early medieval periods. A substantial number of artifacts recovered from the area, including fossils, stone tools, sculptures, and architectural fragments, are preserved in the Archaeological Museum, Hoshiarpur. Records in the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) database also document antiquities from Dholbaha preserved in museum collections.
Census data ParticularsTotalMaleFemaleTotal No. of Houses579Population2,7381,3841,354Child (0-6)332179153Schedule Caste456245211Schedule Tribe000Literacy83.46 %86.56 %80.35 %Total Workers845639206Main Worker61700Marginal Worker22891137
References Dronah Foundation. "Archaeological Museum Hoshiarpur". https://www.dronahfoundation.org/archaeological-museum-hoshiarpur/
Government of India. National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) Database. https://nmma.nic.in/
PunjabLinks. "About Hoshiarpur District Archaeology". https://www.punjablinks.com/districts/hoshiarpur/about-hoshiarpur/
Government of Punjab. Archaeological Museum, Hoshiarpur documentation (collection records from Dholbaha region).