The Chalcolithic, or Copper Age, flourished in India during the period 5,000-800 BCE. The most important sites at this time were centered around the Indus Valley, although sites have been found in other parts of the sub-continent, with variations occurring in the Central, Eastern and Southern Regions. One site in particular, in the State of Maharashtra, has recently suffered some catastrophic damage.
     The site was first discovered in a village called Hatnur, famed for its earthfill dam) in 2015, when examples of Chalcolithic pottery were found. Archaeological excavations were due to start in February 2020.
     A senior official from the State Department of Culture is quoted as saying, in September 2018, when talking about the planned excavations "This will enhance our understanding of Maharashtra's prehistory and evolution. For instance, the history of Aurangabad, which is believed to have begun with the Saravahana dynasty, will go back from about 200 BCE to around 2,000 BCE".
     This makes it a very unfortunate misunderstanding when the local highways department started their own excavations first, using soil scooped from the site to form the base for a new road. Now a blame game has started between the State Archaeological Department and the Revenue Department, with both sides blaming each other for the misunderstanding.

Edited from The Tribune - India (8 January 2020)