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Lothal
Context:
A new study has found fresh evidence that can confirm the dockyard’s existence at Lothal.
More on news:
- Since the 1950s discovery of Harappan sites at Lothal in the Bhal region of Gujarat, archaeologists have debated whether a dockyard existed at this location during the Indus Valley Civilisation.
- The study revealed that during the Harappan Civilisation, the Sabarmati River once flowed near Lothal, which is now 20 kilometres away from its current course.
- The analysis also uncovered a travel route that connected Ahmedabad to Dholavira, another Harappan site, passing through Lothal, the Nal Sarovar wetland, and the Little Rann.
- The research supports the dockyard theory and clarifies issues related to historical inlets, highlighting Lothal’s significance for trade through both river and sea routes.
About Lothal:
- Location: Lothal was one of the southernmost sites of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, located in the Bhal region of the Indian state of Gujarat.
- Founding: Construction of the city is believed to have begun around 2200 BCE.
- Discovery: Lothal was discovered in 1954 by SR Rao (Archaeological Survey of India). Excavation work was conducted from 1955 to 1960.
- Dock: Lothal had the world’s earliest known dock, which connected the city to an ancient course of the Sabarmati River on a trade route between Harappan cities in Sindh (Pakistan) and the Saurashtra peninsula.
- Planning: The city was planned with a citadel and lower town, divided into blocks on terraced platforms. It had standardised widths for roads and an efficient drainage system.
- Trade: Lothal was a vital trade centre, with its beads, gems and ornaments reaching West Asia and Africa. It had warehouses near the acropolis to store and examine cargo.
- Religion: The people of Lothal worshipped a fire god, possibly represented by the horned deity depicted on seals, referred to as Atha (Athar) and Arka.
- Burial Practices: In Lothal, burial pits were lined with burnt bricks, suggesting the use of coffins.
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- The site also shows evidence of twin burials, where pot burials sometimes contained pairs of skeletons.
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- Metallurgy and Jewellery: The people of Lothal demonstrated advanced metallurgy, employing the Cire Perdue (lost-wax) technique for casting and used multi-piece moulds for creating intricate figures of birds and animals.
- Art: Lothal was a major hub for the bead industry. Unique beads such as double-eye agate beads, gold-capped jasper beads, and carnelian beads are attributed to this site.
- Seals: Lothal has yielded the third-largest number of seals among all Indus Valley Civilisation sites.
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- The seals feature depictions of short-horned bulls, mountain goats, tigers, and composite animals like the elephant bull, which may have held symbolic or religious significance.
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- Pottery: Redware pottery is the most commonly found type at Lothal and is used for everyday activities.
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- Blackware pottery, though less common, was significant for finer goods like drinking vessels and decorative items.
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- First Harappan Site in India: Lothal is important as India’s first discovered Harappan site, after the major towns of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were excavated in the 1920s in what is now Pakistan.
- Nomination: Lothal has been nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC): It is being developed at Lothal to display India’s diverse maritime heritage.
- The National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) is poised to become the world’s largest maritime museum complex, transforming into an international tourism hub.
