Loteshwar

Loteshwar is a village in Patan district, Gujarat, with an archaeological mound known locally as Khari-no-timbo. The site sits on a high sand dune on the left bank of the Khari, a tributary of the Rupen. Excavations by M. S. University, Baroda in 1990–91 found two cultural periods, a microlithic one and a later phase related to Harappan culture.

The earlier layers yielded many small stone tools of chert, jasper, agate and quartz, along with grinding stones and two burials. The later phase left numerous ash-filled pits, red ware pottery and beads of steatite, agate, carnelian and amazonite. Work in 2009 dated human activity here to around 8000 BCE, placing it among the oldest Mesolithic sites known in western India.