LOTHAL - THE PORT CITY OF ANCIENT TIMES

Published by: R.Dheeraj
Date: Feb 14, 2010

INTRODUCTION

There were many prominent cities in the Indus-Valley which were at the pinnacle of civilization and organization. Even today, certain aspects of these cities remain a mystery to leading archaeologists throughout the world. Lothal was one among the prominent Indus-valley cities to be excavated. The meaning of ‘Lothal’ is derived from Gujarati which means “the mound of the dead” which was given to it by the people of the neighbouring villages. According to researches performed by archaeologists, Lothal seems to have existed around 24oo BCE and it is considered to be one of the most important archaeological sites that dates from that era.

ARCHAEOLOGY

Lothal was discovered in 1954 in the state of Gujarat and was excavated by the Archaeological survey of India from February 13^th, 1955 to May 19th, 1960. Apart from the main city, the most striking feature of Lothal was the port of Lothal. Initially, there was speculation that this tank might have been used for irrigation purposes considering the small size of the main city. Later it was confirmed that Lothal had been a major part in the river route of the ancient peoples from Sindh to Gujarat. Many cemeteries have also been excavated which indicate that the people were probably of Dravidian, Proto-Australoid or Mediterranean physiques. Lothal was also classified to be single-cultured site-the Harappan culture. Lothal is based upon a mound that was a salt marsh inundated by tide.

TOWN PLANNING

Before the arrival of the Harappans, Lothal was a small village on the river bank which provided access to the mainland from the Gulf of Khambhat. When a flood destroyed the village foundations and settlements around 2350 BCE, the Harappans took the opportunity to expand their settlement and constructed a city similar to the greater cities of the Indus valley civilization. The town was divided into blocks of 1-2 metre high platforms of sun-dried bricks, each serving 20-30 houses of thick mud and brick walls. The city was divided into a main citadel (or acropolis) and a lower town. The rulers of lothal lived in the acropolis which was equipped with paved baths, a good underground drainage system and potable water wells. The lower town was mainly for the common people and merchants who lived in Lothal. The North-South street of Lothal was the main commercial area which consisted of the shops of merchants and on either side of the shops were the living settlements of the people. During years of Lothal’s progress,the lower town was eventually enlarged.

THE DOCK

The ‘Port of Lothal’ or the dock,was a significant engineering marvel by the orginees of Lothal. They gave high priority to the construction of a port and a warehouse to assist the purpose of trading. The dock was built on the eastern flank of the town, and is regarded by archaeologists as an engineering feat of the highest order. The part was located away from the course of the main river, but provided entry for ships during high tide. The acropolis stood nearby the dock so that the rulers can overlook the happenings at the dock and warehouse. A wharf was also built along the western bank of the dock to facilitate the movement of cargo between the ships and the warehouse. The warehouse was built on a 3.5 metre high podium of mud bricks. The dock and the city’s peripheral walls were maintained efficiently to withstand sudden floods and natural calamities. Overall, the dock stood as a talisman that signified the port-city of Lothal.

ORGANISED URBAN LIVING

The Harappans were a very disciplined people. This can be inferred from the organized and orderly manner of construction of buildings and houses. Standards were also laid out to perform commerce and administrative duties. The width of mast streets remained the same over a long time and no encroached structures were built. Houses were equipped with sumps to deposit solid waste, so as to prevent clogging up of drains. Drains, man-holes, and cesspools kept the city clean and deposited the waste in the river nearby. Sometimes, fire altars were built in public places to hold gatherings. Metalware, gold and jewellery and decorated ornaments also added proof of the Harappans’ prosperous lives.

SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENTS

Lots of Proof for the scientific advancements made by the Harappans have been unearthed at Lothal.

• A thick ring-like object with four slits, served as a compass to measure angles on plane surfaces in multiples of 40 degrees. This was probably used to study the sky.
• The mast primitive accurate measuring scales was invented here. An ivory scale measuring 128 mm in length and which was 6 mm thick, had 27 graduations spaced eqully over 46 mm. theleast count was 1.70 mm, which was 1/10^th of the ‘Angula’
• Creation of the radial bricks for making wells also showed the intellectual thinking of the Harappans at that age. The wells measured around 2.4m in diameter and 6.7m deep.
• The Lothal people built immaculate networks of underground drains,silting chambers and cesspools and inspection chambers for solid waste. The extent of drains provided archaeologists with many clues regarding the layout of streets, organization of housing and baths.
• Archaeologists estimate that in most cases, the bricks were in ratio 1:0:5:0:25 on three sides, in dimensions which were integral multiples of large graduations of the Lothal scale of 25 mm.

RELIGION AND DISPOSAL OF THE DEAD

The people of Lothal worshipped a fire god, which is evidenced by the presence of private and public fire-altars where sacrifices of animals and cattle were conducted. Archaeologists have discovered gold pendants, charred ashes of terra-cotta cakes and pottery, bovine remains, beads and other signs that may indicate the practice of the Gavamayana sacrifice, associated with the ancient Vedic religion. Animal worship is also evidenced, but not the worship of the Mother Goddess that is evidenced in other Harappan cities. However, it is believed that a sea goddess, perhaps cognate with the general Indus-era Mother Goddess, was worshipped. Today, the local villagers likewise worship a sea goddess, Vanuvati Sikotarimata. But the archaeologists also discovered that the practice had been given up by 2000 BCE. They suggested that the practice occurred only on occasion. Given the small number of graves discovered—only 17 in an estimated population of 15,000—it was evident that the citizens of Lothal also practiced cremation of the dead. Post-cremation burials have been noted in other Indus sites like Harappa, Mehi and Damb-Bhuti. The mummified remains of an Assyrian and an Egyptian corpse were also discovered at the mound.

ART

• Discovery of the famous and intricate Lothal beads had been found in Kish and Ur(of modern day Iraq), Jalalabad(Afghanistan) and Susa(Iran). This showed the demand for these beads which were exported through ships. Double-eye beads of agate and gold-capped beads of Jasper and Carnelian beads are among those attributed to Lothal.
• Pottery was also practiced in Lothal. They offered two types of works-a convex bowl with a stud handle and a small jar with flaring rim. The pots were also decorated with paintings and engravings.
• Lothal has also produced 213 seals, which were considered as masterpieces of art and calligraphy. They depicted mainly animals like the short-horned bull and elephants. There is a short inscription of intaglio in almost every seal.
• Terra-cota gamesmen were also made which was an earlier version of modern day chessmen. Terracota models also identifies the differences between species of dogs and bulls. Toys with movable heads were also made.

DECLINING YEARS

While the wider debate over the end of Indus civilization continues, archaeological evidence gathered by the ASI appears to point to natural catastrophes, specifically floods and storms as the source of Lothal's downfall. A powerful flood submerged the town and destroyed most of the houses, with the walls and platforms heavily damaged. The acropolis and the residence of the ruler were levelled (2000-1900 BCE), and inhabited by common tradesmen and newly built makeshift houses. The worst consequence was the shift in the course of the river, cutting off access to the ships and dock. Despite the ruler leaving the city, the leaderless people built a new but shallow inlet to connect the flow channel to the dock for sluicing small ships into the basin. Large ships were moored away. Houses were rebuilt, yet without removal of flood debris, which made them poor-quality and susceptible to further damage. Public drains were replaced by soakage jars. The citizens did not undertake encroachments, and rebuilt public baths and maintained fire worship. However, with a poorly organised government, and no outside agency or central government, the public works could not be properly repaired or maintained. The heavily damaged warehouse was never repaired properly, and stocks were stored in wooden canopies, exposed to floods and fire. The economy of the city was transformed. Trade volumes reduced greatly, though not catastrophically, and resources were available in lesser quantities. Independent businesses caved, allowing a merchant-centric system of factories to develop where hundreds of craftsmen worked for the same supplier and financier. The bead factory had ten living rooms and a large workplace courtyard. The coppersmith's workshop had five furnaces and paved sinks to enable multiple artisans to work.

The declining prosperity of the town, paucity of resources and poor administration increased the woes of a people pressured by consistent floods and storms. Increased salinity of soil made the land inhospitable to life, including crops.

Even though the reason for Lothal’s decline was mis-administration, it stood as a fine example for organized administration and harmonious living in its prosperous years. Many mysteries surrounding Lothal are yet to be unveiled. It will always remain a lit beacon in the history of human society and India……..

____________________________________________________________