Archaeology of Bet Dwarka Island

Abstract

Explorations along the shore and in the intertidal zone at Bet Dwarka island, Gujarat, India were carried out by the Marine Archaeology Centre of National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa, India between 1981-1994. Artefacts of both the protohistoric and historic period were found. The former include a seal, inscriptions and pottery, while the latter consist of coins and pottery. The earliest settlement at Bet Dwarka may be dated to the late phase of the Indus Civilization, i.e. c. 1400 B.C. Bet Dwarka then was perhaps deserted for several centuries and was re-occupied in the 3rd century B.C.