Source: IE
Context: A new study by IIT Gandhinagar has provided fresh evidence supporting the existence of a dockyard at Lothal, Gujarat, during the Harappan Civilization.
- The research reveals that the Sabarmati River, which now flows 20 km away, once ran close to Lothal, enhancing its significance as a major trade route.
- The study suggests that Lothal was connected via waterways to other Harappan sites like Dholavira, facilitating trade with regions as far as Mesopotamia.
About Lothal:
Lothal, located in the Bhāl region of Gujarat, was one of the southernmost sites of the Indus Valley Civilization, built around 2200 BC.
It was a significant trade centre, known for trading beads, gems, and ornaments with West Asia and Africa.
The name “Lothal” means “the mound of the dead” in Gujarati, similar to the meaning of “Mohenjo-daro” in Sindhi.
Lothal is notable for having the world’s earliest known dock, which connected it to the Sabarmati River, facilitating trade between Harappan cities and the Saurashtra peninsula.
