LOTHAL DOCKYARD (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – History)

Context: A recent study by the Indian Institute of Technology-Gandhinagar has uncovered evidence of the Lothal dockyard from the Harappan Civilization. This finding sheds new light on ancient maritime activities.

Lothal Dockyard

• About: It was one of the southernmost sites of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), situated in the Bhal region of modern-day Gujarat.
• Historical Foundation: The port city is believed to have been established around 2,200 BC.
• Trade Significance: Lothal was a prominent trade center, exporting beads, gems, and ornaments to West Asia and Africa.
• Early Dock: Lothal featured the world's earliest known dock, connecting the city to an ancient course of the Sabarmati River, part of a trade route linking Harappan cities in Sindh and Saurashtra.
• Key Discovery: Archaeologist SR Rao led the team which discovered a number of Harappan sites at the time, including the port city of Lothal.
• Excavation Timeline: Excavation work was carried out in Lothal between February 1955 and May 1960.

Study Findings

• Hypothesis on Inland Network: Researchers hypothesized that Lothal was connected to an inland network reaching the Rann of Kutch.
• Identification of Water Channel: Researchers traced a water channel to the Sabarmati river, which historically flowed by Lothal.
• Shift in River Course: The Sabarmati river has since shifted its course and now flows 20 km away from Lothal.
• Trade Route: The study indicates that traders accessed Gujarat via the Gulf of Khambhat.
• Traders are believed to have transported materials from Ratanpura to Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq).