The 100th anniversary of the announcement of the Harappan Civilisation’s discovery was celebrated on Friday, 20 September. It was on this day in 1924 when then-Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India John Marshall wrote for The Illustrated London News, announcing to the world the startling discovery made by his team, which culminated in the uncovering of the forgotten cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. Subsequently, it became clear to Marshall and others that this was not an isolated find but had its bearing on the rest of the world.
A century later, while hundreds of Harappan sites have been excavated and thousands mapped, it still feels as if archaeologists have merely scratched the surface of this ancient civilisation. Remarkably, despite a hundred years of research and data, many questions remain unanswered, keeping scholars actively engaged in exploring the past.
One contentious issue has been the identification of a dockyard in the Harappan port town of Lothal. While archaeologists like SR Rao used compelling evidence to identify a baked-brick rectangular structure as a dockyard, many scholars have expressed scepticism about this identification. Finally, with recent publications, this matter has reached a scientific conclusion that proves beyond doubt that Lothal indeed was a port and the structure identified by Rao was indeed a dockyard.
When, a century ago, Marshall declared the existence of a Bronze Age in India, he may not have realised that it was just the beginning of an exploration into this rich and complex past.
Lothal – A history
Following the Partition of India and Pakistan, the postal codes of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were changed, leaving India without any major Harappan settlement. This initiated rigorous surveys across the country to plot archaeological treasures on India’s map. Surveys were conducted in Gujarat which resulted in the excavation of Rangpur, located in Saurashtra, in 1953. This excavation proved the Harappan presence in the state and by the late 1950s, over 40 Harappan sites were reported in India including Lothal.
Unlike other sites surveyed in the 1950s, Lothal was recognised as a ‘true Harappan settlement’, and demonstrated sophisticated urban planning, characterised by a grid layout of streets, clearly defined residential and commercial zones, and intricate drainage systems. These elements reflect a highly organised society that prioritised sanitation and infrastructure.
Excavations have revealed various residential structures, including multi-room homes equipped with drainage access. The variations in the size of houses indicate a level of social stratification within the community. The presence of public baths and communal structures suggests a focus on hygiene and social interaction, pointing to complex cultural practices and community life.
In addition to this, Lothal also had a separate bead-making industry with workshops that produced intricate beads from semi-precious stones. This highlights advanced craftsmanship and the importance of trade in luxury goods. Evidence of metalworking has also been discovered, including tools and ornaments made from copper and bronze, reflecting advanced technological skills and resource utilisation. Numerous terracotta figurines, seals, and pottery have been found, indicating a rich artistic tradition and a system of writing, possibly used for trade and administrative purposes.
Additionally, the presence of grains and agricultural tools points to Lothal’s involvement in agriculture, supporting both its population and trade networks. These discoveries collectively provide a deeper understanding of Lothal as a centre of economic, social, and cultural activity within the Indus Valley Civilisation, illustrating its role as a complex urban centre beyond its maritime connections. However, the most important evidence which placed Lothal on the map was the dockyard.
Also read: Harappan cities had remarkable drainage systems. Delhi can learn a thing or two
The dockyard controversy
SR Rao initiated excavations at Lothal in 1955, recognising that the site’s unique characteristics were closely tied to its environment. Located between the Bhogawa river to the west and the Sabarmati river to the east, Lothal is also bordered by the Gulf of Cambay to the south and the Little Rann of Kutch to the north. Rao conducted extensive surveys to identify paleo-channels and depressions that shaped the region’s geomorphology.
During the monsoon season, the area merges with the Nal Lake, with the water inundating neighboring regions, turning villages into islands, and disrupting communication. Lothal has a history of flooding, experiencing approximately four to five feet of water for nearly three months each year. Rao identified a natural depression indicating the bed of an ancient river along the mound’s western edge, with seawater entering the Bhogawa river and flooding old river beds at high tide.
When a trapezoidal brick-walled structure, complete with inlet channels and a spillway, was discovered, it suggested Lothal was a port city facilitating trade. However, some archaeologists, including Gregory Possehl, questioned the extent of maritime activities, arguing that the lack of substantial shipbuilding remains indicated a reliance on overland trade rather than significant dockyard use.
Although archaeologically there was enough evidence such as anchor stones, marine shells, Persian Gulf seal, and painted pottery of Sumerian origin to underline the maritime activities at Lothal, lack of ‘scientific evidence’ at that time appeared to sceptics as an over-exaggeration. They (Shah 1960, Leshnik 1968, Ratnagar 1981) believed it was a ‘tank’ and not a ‘dockyard’.
Also read: Collapse of Harappan Civilisation? Art of making shell bangles transcends time and boundaries
Evidence
Recently, papers published in the Journal of Archaeological Science (Vol. 170) by Ekta Gupta, VN Prabhakar, and Vikrant Jain and in the Journal of Maritime Archaeology (Vol. 19, Issue 2) by Ekta Gupta and VN Prabhakar have brought to light the evidence needed to cement the existence of dockyard at Lothal.
In the first paper, the authors established a direct connection between the site and the palaeo-channel of the Sabarmati river. They used early maps of the region along with multi-spectral and multi-temporal satellite data, different spatial resolutions, and digital elevation models to reconstruct the palaeo-landscape around the archaeological mound. Networks of former channels of Sabarmati were identified which connected Lothal with another Harappan site, Koth, and the resource–rich region. The study also suggested that palaeocoastline was used to harness the tidal effect for docking and undocking the ships. These findings were complemented by the second paper that analysed the Nal Corridor, a missing piece in the puzzle.
According to this study, the authors incorporated satellite data, field observation, and existing literature to identify an important maritime route that has now become defunct. The study identified a shallow inland water route through the Nal corridor. It passed through Nal lake from the Gulf of Khambhat in the south all the way to Little Rann of Kutch in the north, connecting Lothal in the south to Dholavira in the north. This also meant that during monsoons, Saurashtra would get separated from mainland Gujarat, although not from an extended arm of the seawater but through various kinds of interconnected water features situated within the Nal corridor.
The Nal Corridor, which spans approximately five to 20 km in width and extends for a length of 100 km, historically would serve as the link between the Rann of Kutch in the north and the Gulf of Khambhat in the south, creating a safer and shorter passage between Lothal and Dholavira. This also aids the understanding of the interregional connection between many port settlements in Gujarat including Nageshwar, Bagasara, and Kanmer, among others.
Rao suggested these possibilities back in the 1960s, though he lacked modern technology. The recent papers reinforce his earlier ideas and eliminate potential misinterpretations. Notably, a century of research has revealed the sophistication of the Harappan culture, its dynamic trade networks, and geographic insights. However, it may take another century to fully decode the remaining complexities.
Disha Ahluwalia is an archaeologist and junior research fellow at the Indian Council Of Historical Research. Views are personal. She tweets @ahluwaliadisha.