Marine archaeological investigations along the Saurashtra coast, west coast of India

Abstract

Utilization of the ocean resources on the Saurashtra coast is dating back to the Harappan period (3rd millennium BC) and evidences on the same have been recorded from various archaeological sites such as Lothal, Padri, Nageshwar and Bet Dwarka. Foreign travellers have mentioned the names of active ports on the Saurashtra coast since the early historical period. During the medieval period this coast has witnessed hectic maritime activities and international trade and commerce. Marine archaeological investigations along the Saurashtra coast, Gujarat, India particularly at Dwarka, Bet Dwarka, Porbandar, Somnath, Gopnath and Mithivirdi have brought to light the remains of port installation and a large number of stone anchors. With the passage of time, natural factors such as siltation or tectonic disturbances and development of modern ports at Jamnagar, Porbandar, Viraval etc led to the abundance of ancient ports along the Saurashtra coast. The present paper examines the remains on the maritime activities discovered between Okha in the west and Mithivirdi (Talaja taluka of Bhavnagar district) in the east.