Lothal and New Proof on its Dockyard 

Syllabus :GS 1/History

In News

• Researchers from IIT Gandhinagar have discovered new evidence supporting the existence of a dock at Lothal, an important Harappan site in India.

About Lothal 

• Location and Findings: Lothal, located 80 km southwest of Ahmedabad, was discovered by local villagers long before its official excavation led by archaeologist S R Rao.
  • He identified the large structure as a dockyard for maritime trade, capable of sluicing ships 18-20m long.
  •  Lothal was believed to be a hub for maritime commerce due to the presence of seals, traded items, and stone anchors.
• Dockyard Debate: Since Lothal’s discovery, archaeologists have debated whether the 215m-long and 37m-wide structure was a dockyard.
  •  The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has supported this theory, but some scholars suggested it might have been a reservoir.
• New Evidence:The IIT-Gandhinagar study used satellite imagery to reveal old Sabarmati River channels flowing near Lothal, suggesting that boats could have sailed through to other Harappan sites like Dholavira.
  • Lothal was part of a trade network extending to Mesopotamia, exporting agricultural and marine products, and importing raw materials like gemstones and metals.
• Significance: Lothal’s name means “the mound of the dead” in Gujarati. The city was a thriving trading port around 3700 BCE, and excavations between 1955 and 1960 by ASI revealed its connection to an ancient river system crucial for trade.
  • Lothal was a significant city of the Indus Valley Civilization, dating back 4,500 years.
  • Excavations revealed the world’s oldest known artificial dock, an acropolis, lower town, bead factory, warehouses, drainage system, and canals, highlighting its importance as a trading city.
  • Artifacts suggest that Lothal engaged in trade with ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Persia.
  • Lothal has provided the largest number of antiquities in modern Indian archaeology.
• Lothal’s Decline: Water, which brought prosperity to Lothal, also led to its destruction. The site was rebuilt multiple times, and at its peak in the late 3rd millennium BCE, it may have housed 15,000 people.
• UNESCO Nomination: Lothal has been nominated to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Comparison with Dholavira: Lothal and Dholavira (in Gujarat) are two major Harappan sites in India. Both share similarities, such as the presence of large reservoirs, but differ in size and urban layout. 

Government Initiatives:

• National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC): The Government of India is building a National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal to highlight India’s maritime history and global trade links dating back to the Harappan period. It will showcase Lothal’s importance as a maritime hub.

Source :IE