Balu, Kaithal


Balu is a small archeological site attributed to the Indus Valley Civilisation, located some south of the city of Kaithal in the Indian state of Haryana.

Historical significance

This is a small fortified settlement which has yielded several plant remains.

Floral remains

Several plant remains were found here include various types of barley, wheat, rice, horsegram, green gram, various types of pea, sesamum, melon, watermelon, grapes, dates, garlic etc. which is comparable to a nearby IVC site Kunal, Haryana revealed remains of rice.

Earliest garlic

The plant remains found here include a garlic specimen, recognised as the earliest evidence of garlic. This is the earliest evidence of garlic cloves in south & south-east Asia, and it dates to the Mature Harappan period.