Lothal

Lothal, meaning "The Mound of the Dead," was discovered in 1954.  Excavation conducted here from 1955 to 1962,

 revealed well-planned town and sea-port of the Indus (Harrapa) Civilization flourishing between 2400 and 1900 B.C.

when the sea was much closer. The inhabitants built a dock (216 m Long X 37 m Wide).  Enclosed by a brick wall 3 m High. 

Originally the ships were sluiced at the tides into the basin through an inlet channel in the northern embankment connected

with the river flowing on the west of the town.  The dock and township appear to have been damaged by the flodds in about

2000 B.C. when the river changed its cours, necessitating large-scale repairs and digging of a channel to sluice ships through the

inlet in the eastern embankment.  The spillway in the southern straight rows on 1 to 4 m high platforms of mudbrick-paved baths. 

The main street in the lower town seems to have been flanked by small shops of copper smith and shell-workers.  The houses

in street 9, connecting the cemetary with the lower town, are larger in size.  A kiln was attached to a bead-factory situated to

the west of the acropolis.  The town was destroyed by frequent floods and had to be abandoned in about 1900 B.C. but

a few Harappans continued to stay up to 1700 B.C.  The seals and sealings, stone weights and metal objects, beads

and other ornaments from Lothal are analogous to those from Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.

 Lower Town

The Lower Town which occupies a major part of walled city was divided into three sectors namely Bazar in the north,

industrial area on the west and residential quarters in northwest.  Particular mention may be made of 3 rooms-shops

of coppersmith and shell workers and a merchants house with six rooms in the Bazar street. Private residencies had neatly

built kitchens and brickpaved baths each having outlet for water.  A bronze smithy is indictated by a cluster of paved

sumps and pot furnaces noticed at northern end of the city.

 The Dock

This trepezoid basin measuring on an average 218 X 37 metres was excavated and lined with brick-wall to facilitate entry of ships at a high

tide through an inlet in northern wall close to which a nala (river) was flowing.  Perfect vertically of th brick wall is designed to stand the

thrust of water and enabled ships reach edge of the embankment.  A unique feature of the dock to ensure flotation of ships at low water

by inserting wooden shutten in grooves.  Marine shells recovered from the basin and high salinity of its floor suggest that an arm of the

sea extended almost up to Lothal 4000 years ago.  The perforated stone anchor in the basin confirm that this structure was actually used for

receiving ships.  About 30 ships of 60 tons Capa City could be berthed in Lothal Dock which is as big as the modern dock at Vishakhapatnam.

 Bead-Maker's Kiln

Bead-making was a major industry of Lothal.  The lapidaries working in the near by factory used this circular kiln to heat

semiprecious stones before removing the cortex and to bake finished beads for deepening the hue.  This technique

is still followed by bead-maker's of Cambay.  Lothal exported a variety of stone paste, ivory and shell to Bahrain

and Sumerian cities.  The technique of etching was well known here. 

Below is a picture of the bead-maker's kiln.

 Acropolis

The Acropolis is so-called because of its importance as a seat of administration.  The ruler who occupied

the block supervised from here movement of ships in the dock and hauling of cargo in the wharf.

All that is left of the impressive building comprising ruler's mansion is a row of bathson on south

and remnants of drains on the north, rest having been washed away by floods, the meticulous care

taken to build undergroung drains, mankhols and cess-pools and to dig well for potable water

proves that the Acropolis enjoyed maximum civil amenies.  After devastation floods in 2000 B.C.

it was occupied by craftsmen producing shell, bone and ivory objects.