Lothal
Lothal is situated at the head of the Gulf of Cambay. Being located near the function of Sabarmati and Bhogawo river, it commanded the nevigable estnaries of both the rivers.
As seen by an artist
Excavation at this site revealed five phases of seeningly continous occupation. Of this, the first four are Harrapan and the fifth sub-Harappan. The settlement was rectangular on plan and consisted of two parts; the citadel and the lower city. The citadel was located in the south-western part and was distinguished by its ominence being built upon mud and mud-bricks platforms. Of the structures exposed within the citadel, the warehouse is perhaps most note worthy. The lower city contained the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. The most interesting structure unearthed at Lothal is an ablong basin 214x36 mtr. Rivetted on all the sides in backed bricks and having necessary opening for a slnice inlet etc. The structure is thought to have been dock for shipping.
The occurrence of a ciruclar seal of Paersian Gulf style at the site points to the existence of maritime trade with West Asia.
|
Besides the impercable Harappan potteryand some new shapes and designs of a reginal un induskind. The finds include seal, chart blades and fish hooks of copper or broze.
At Lothal the cemetery was located to the north-west of the settlement beyond the city wall the people buried their dead in an extended position in oval or rectangular grave-pits in which pottery and other objects were also kept. The unique features of these burials, however, is a occurrence, in some of the graves, of skeleton of two persons.