Radiocarbon dates of the medieval period stone anchors from Dabhol, west coast of India

Abstract

Dabhol was an important medieval-period port town on the Maharashtra coast. An archaeological exploration at Dabhol has revealed four stone anchors with remains of wood in fluke hole. These anchors were retrieved from Dabhol creek during a dredging operation for the channel. Two samples of the wood attached to the fluke holes of an anchor were dated using radiocarbon method are 590 plus or minus 90 yrs BP and 600 plus or minus 70 yrs BP respectively. Interestingly, the Loyaleshwar Temple near Dabhol jetty (in Marathi the anchor is called as loyale) has an iron anchor of the British admiralty-type, which is worshipped even today