Lothal- Harrapan Port Town

News: An IIT Delhi student recently lost her life while conducting research near the archaeological site of Lothal in Gujarat.

About Lothal

1. It was one of the southernmost sites of the Indus Valley civilization (IVC).

2. Its archaeological remains is located along the Bhogava river, a tributary of Sabarmati, in the Gulf of Khambat.

3. The site offers evidence of Harappan culture dating back to the period between 2400 BCE and 1600 BCE.

4. The excavated site of Lothal is the only port-town of the Indus Valley Civilisation.

5. Discovery– Lothal was discovered by SR Rao, an Indian archaeologist. Excavation work was carried out in Lothal between February 1955 and May 1960.

6. Features of the town:

• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) states that Lothal had the world’s oldest known dock, linking it to an ancient course of the Sabarmati River.
• Other features also include the acropolis, the lower town, the bead factory, the warehouses, and the drainage system.
• Lothal served as a trade hub connecting the Harappan civilization with the rest of India, Mesopotamia, and Africa.

Heritage Value of Lothal:

• Lothal was nominated in 2014 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its application is pending on the tentative list of UNESCO.
• The National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) is being built at Lothal to showcase India’s rich maritime history.