Anchors from Goa waters, central west coast of India: Remains of Goa's overseas trade contacts with Arabian countries and Portugal

Abstract

Underwater explorations have been initiated in Goa waters since 1997 for locating shipwrecks. These explorations brought to light the Indo-Arabian type of stone anchors from Sunchi Reef and Grande Island, a unique type of stone anchor from Baga and one iron anchor each from Sunchi Reef and Aguada waters. In addition to this, four iron anchors have been reported while dredging in the Aguada bar. Similarly, two more iron anchors have been housed in the Archaeological Museum in Old Goa. Out of seven iron anchors, five anchors are similar in shape and belong to the 16th-17th century, whereas the other two anchors are similar in shape and datable to the 18th century. None of the stone or iron anchors have been found with any datable context except the iron anchor of Sunchi Reef, which is associated with the remains of a Portuguese shipwreck of the early 17th century AD. The paper deals with stone and iron anchors of Goa and ascribes tentative dates in relation to the maritime history of Goa.