Lothal, located about 30 kilometers inland from the coast of the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat, India, was a prosperous port during the Harappan period of the Bronze Age (2600 BCE to 1900 BCE). This settlement is a key piece in the Harappan production and distribution network, connecting various centers along the Gulf and the Rann of Kachchh.

Artifacts of foreign origin found in Lothal confirm its intercultural trade relationships with other civilizations. However, Lothal is best known for its well-preserved brick dock and its warehouse, though the hypothesis that this structure served as a dockyard has been the subject of debate in the archaeological literature.

The Harappan Civilization, also known as the Indus Valley Civilization (circa 2600-1900 BCE), is recognized as one of the most advanced societies of antiquity, comparable to the Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations. Lothal is located in the southernmost region of this civilization, making it an outlier within the general pattern of Harappan settlements.

The Lothal dockyard shortly after its discovery and excavation
The Lothal dockyard shortly after its discovery and excavation. Credit: Penn Museum

It is believed that human occupation in Lothal began around 2500 BCE, likely by indigenous communities of artisans and traders with strong influences from the regions of Sindh and Kachchh. Over the next two or three centuries, the Harappans occupied Lothal and established a planned settlement with new industries and expanded trade activities.

Due to its proximity to important resources such as steatite, carnelian, copper, amazonite, and shells, Lothal served as an important trading center to supply the vast plains of the Indo-Saraswati. It was also a prominent center for the export of ivory, stone beads, and cotton products. Its trade connections were not limited to the Indus region but extended to Mesopotamia, the Persian Gulf coast, and Elam, as evidenced by the presence of Harappan pottery, seals, weights, and decorated carnelian beads in these places.

In the Persian Gulf region, Harappan artifacts have been found at various coastal settlements. Furthermore, Lothal’s maritime trade activities are supported by the existence of several Harappan artisanal production centers and habitation sites along the estuaries and the vast coastline, stretching from the Makran coast near the Iranian border in Pakistan to Lothal in the Gulf of Khambhat.

Reconstruction of the original course of the river through Lothal.
Reconstruction of the original course of the river through Lothal. Credit: E. Gupta et al.

One of the most notable elements of Lothal is a large trapezoidal basin of baked bricks, approximately 222 meters long, 37 meters wide, and 4 meters deep, located in the eastern section of the city. The archaeologist who excavated the site, S.R. Rao, and other scholars interpret this structure as a dockyard, based on archaeological, structural, and geomorphological evidence.

This hypothesis, however, has been a subject of debate among scholars. The evidence supporting the dockyard theory includes several features such as the presence of an inlet and outlet channel, a 240-meter-wide mudbrick platform on the western edge to facilitate cargo handling, and the existence of a “warehouse” near this structure.

Despite this evidence, some scholars have questioned the functionality of the basin as a dockyard due to the absence of a possible hinterland and the risks and costs associated with navigating the Saurashtra coast. As a result, alternative theories have been proposed that consider the structure as a water reservoir for irrigation and human consumption.

Lothal dockyard today
Lothal dockyard today. Credit: Orissa8 / Wikimedia Commons

Recently, a landscape approach has been adopted to reexamine the dockyard theory, using multispectral and multitemporal satellite data, historical maps, and digital elevation models. This research has revealed an evident connection between Lothal and the ancient course of the Sabarmati River, which currently flows 20 kilometers east of Lothal.

This reconstruction of the paleoenvironmental landscape, both fluvial and coastal, has helped validate certain interpretations related to the dockyard theory, narrowing the credibility gap in the broader discussion.

The reconstruction of the paleolandscape has the potential to offer a new perspective on existing archaeological and geomorphological theories, enabling discoveries and a deeper understanding of how ancient societies adapted to their environment, concluded Professor Ekta Gupta, the lead author of the study.

SOURCES

Ministry of Education of India

Ekta Gupta, V.N. Prabhakar, Vikrant Jain, Sabarmati and its connection with the Harappan port Lothal and the Nal corridor: A study using multi-sensor data, cloud-computing and multi-platforms. Journal of Archaeological Science, Volume 170, October 2024, 106046. doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2024.106046

  • Share on:

Discover more from LBV Magazine English Edition

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Follow LBV Magazine on Google News