Stone anchors (composite type) from the Saurshtra coast, India: An indicator of ancient ports and sea routes

Abstract

Marine archaeological investigations on the Saurashtra coast specially at Dwarka, Bet Dwarka, Armada and Somnath brought to light a large number of stone anchors of various type which include composite, grapnel and ring-stone types. The present paper deals with the composite anchors found from Dwarka 34, Bet Dwarka 25, Armada 2 and from Somnath 5. Most of them are made of locally available rock, limestone. On the basis of their shape and perforation on the anchors, three stages of their evolution have been recorded. During early stage these might have been used for long voyages, however, at later stage this type of anchors were used by fishermen only for short voyages as around 8th century AD grapnel anchors, suitable for long voyage were introduced on the Indian coast which had capacity to hold the large size boat in the sea. On the basis of similar findings from other Indian sites we suggest a time bracket between early historical period to till recent past for these anchors