Underwater Excavations Are Helping Rediscover India’s Coastal History

Photo: https://heritagetamil.in

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI-More insights into India’s ancient maritime history and cultural heritage are expected to emerge after India approved funding for research and underwater exploration at Dwarka and Bet Dwarka in Gujarat, Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu, and Karaikal in Puducherry.

India has also granted a license to the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology to undertake underwater excavation and exploration at Poompuhar, the ancient Sangam-era capital and port city of the early Chola dynasty that is now partly submerged.

Underwater exploration and excavation will be undertaken at Vijay Durga and Janjira in Maharashtra by 2030.

Previous excavations at Bet Dwarka uncovered Late Harappan artefacts, including pottery, a seal and a 580-metre-long protective wall dating to around 1500 BCE, believed to have submerged during a sea storm.

Shipwrecks and stone anchors recovered during earlier excavations have also pointed to maritime trade links with the Romans.

The exploration at these sites is currently being carried out by the Underwater Archaeology Wing of the Archaeological Survey of India.