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Aug 18, 2002

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SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MARINE ARCHAEOLOGY

KEYNOTE ADDRESS by:

S.R. Rao
President, Society for Marine Archaeology, India
8th, 9th & l0th JANUARY 1999
at Thane, Mumbai, India

Sir, Iam happy to announce that the authentic report on the excavation of the Lost City of Dwarka of
'MAHABHARATA' (MBH) fame has just been published by Aditya Prakashan. It gives a comprehensive
account of the technical details of the excavation on land and in the sea corroborating textual evidence. It is
also the first ever venture of Marine Archaeologists in India, which has been rewarded by a World Ship
Trust Award of the United Kingdom for individual excellence in Marine Archaeology with special reference
to Dwarka underwater excavation. Historians, Indologists and Scientists have paid tributes to the pioneers
for the discovery of the legendary city by adopting the most scientific methods known today.
It is essential to have a quick look at the progress of Underwater Archaeology in India and other parts of the
world. I must admit that the tremendous advance made in underwater research from 1981 to 1995 in India
was slowed down for 3 years not only for want of adequate financial support from the Government but also
for lack of appreciation of the need for preserving underwater cultural heritage. Fortunately the Tamil Nadu
Government evinced some interest in underwater excavation and the Marine Archaeology Centre (MAC)
made important discoveries at Pumpuhar. But so far as Dwarka Excavation was concerned, I being
primarily concerned with initiating. Marine Archaeological Research in India, was worried about the delay in
processing the project submitted to the Government of India for further work at Dwarka and Somnath. I am
glad that the National Institute of Oceanography and the Department of Ocean Development agreed upon a
minimum funding scheme and the exploration work on Dwarka coast was resumed last season although for
a short period. This season offshore exploration has started and the findings are awaited. The most urgent
need is, however, the preservation
of underwater structures of the ancient city of Dwarka in the sea bed, and make it a Heritage Site and
Tourist Destination. I hope the Government of Gujarat which has been considering my proposal will act
quickly.
Salinent features of submerged City State of Dvaraka
Dvaraka was a city state comprising Dwarka, island of Bet Dwarka and Nageswar. The mainland city was
well planned and could boast of a good harbour. The full plan of the submerged city on mainland has been
ascertained and plotted on the basis of the individual structures discovered in six fortified sectors extending
upto lkm. from the shore. It was built on reclaimed land. The harbour of the ancient port consists of a rocky
ridge modified into an anchorage for berthing vassels. This is a unique feature achieved in harbour
technology even before the Phoenicians attempted in the Mediterranean sea much later. The manmade
holes in the ridge at Dvaraka and the large stone anchors lying there suggest that large ships used to be
anchored here while smaller boats carried men and cargo up the Gomati river, the paleochannel of which
has also been traced. The presence of three-holed triangular anchors of stone weighing 60 to 150 kg. or
more and the use of Lustrous Red Ware pottery at Dvaraka and Bet Dvaraka give a clue for dating the
sites in view of the fact that at Prabhasa also similar pottery is dated. The textural references to a hill and
the sea at Kusasthali-Dvaraka tally very well with the topographical and other features of Bet Dvaraka. (Rao
S.R. 1999).
For purposes of dating ancient Dvaraka town, the archaeological evidence provided by the Late Indus- type
seal, two inscriptions written in evolved Indus script and typical Late Harappan pottery such as the
perforated jar and the dishes and bowls in Lustrous Red Ware are important. It is now obvious that
Kusasthali, a pre-Dvaraka settlement existed in Bet Dvaraka in the Late Harappan phase as described in
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MBH. The buildings of Kusasthali are traced in a Lower Terrace on the eastern shore of the island. The
stone walls extending over500m and partly visible in patches from BDK I to BDK IV and beyond in the
Middle Terrace can be dated to l6th Century B.C on the basis of Thermoluminiscence date of the pottery
which is further corroborated by a coppersmith's stone mould and an inscribed jar found here. Six rock-cut
wells were also noticed in the Upper Terrace near Nilakantha Mahadev Temple where early historic and
protohistoric pottery has been found. Since this terrace extending upto old Custom House Mound yields
sturdy dishes and bowls

of Late Harappan period datable to 1800-1700 B.C., we may conclude that the earliest town of Kusasthali
built by Kakudmin Revata extended over a fairly large area and it was this town which was first occupied
and fortified in the Mahabharata period and was named Dvaraka. After realising that the narrow strips of
terraces in Kusasthali (Bet Dwarka) were not sufficient for setting the increasing number of Cadavers, a
new town was built a few years later at the mouth of the river Gomati on the mainland and a planned port
city came into existence. It was also called Dvaraka.
In the last season MAC explored the Okhamandal Coast and western shores of Bet Dwarka and found not
only pottery but also eight triangular 3-holed stone anchors of the protohistoric period besides dressed
blocks of a submerged structure thereby confirming that the western coast of the island was also a part of
Kusasthali-Dvaraka. There is an ancient mound, 10 to 12m high, rising from the seashore and leading to
the Dwarkadhish Temple which needs to be excavated. Intensive exploration of the sea bed in shallow
water upto Padmatirtha is likely to yield evidence of a protohistoric site. An early historic site found at
Khuda Dost Tomb in IZ confirms a rise in sea level in the first few centuries of the Christian era as also in
the Mahabharata age (1600 B.C).
MAC carried out in 1997 exploration of the coastal belt of Aramda (North of Dwarka) and discovered port
installations and stone anchors of the type found in Dwarka Waters. It may be recalled here that the
traingular three-holed anchors were in use in the Bronze Age ports of Kition and Cyprus during the l4th
Century B.C. and much earlier in Dvaraka and Bet Dvaraka. At Lothal a triangular anchor with a single hole
was already in use in 2300 B.C. A Mohenjodaro seal with a ship motif depicts a triangular anchor with one
hole. The Dvaraka anchor with 3 holes is a further improvement made by the sailors of the Mahabharata
period. This type however survived for a long time.
It is now necessary for the Marine Archaeology Centre to explore not only the Balapur Bay area but also the
eastern shores of Bet Dwarka to determine the total extent of Protohistoric Dvaraka-Kusasthali and the
later early Historical and Medieval townships. The archaeological evidence from Dwarka, Aramda and Bet
Dwarka confirms that the city State of Dvaravati included Kusasthali-Dvaraka, mainland Dvaraka,
Nageswar (a Late Harappan Town) and perhaps Pindara also.
Date of Dvaraka City State
There is some controversy about the date of Krishna's Dvaraka.

According to Aihole inscription the date of the MBH war is 3102 B.C. but this has been discussed and the
errors that crept in the puranas and other texts have been pointed out (Rao S.R. 1982). It may be noted that
the Indus Valley (Harappan) sites datable to 3000 B.C. are Bronze Age sites but some of the late sites like
Kusasthali-Dvaraka survived in Iron Age which is datable to 1600 B.C. The evidence from Dvaraka
excavation is compatible with that of Krishna's Dvaraka described in MBH and Harivamsa in regard to
physiographical features, location, town plan, and high level of civilization. As is clear from Bet Dwaraka
inscription the language in use was Sanskrit. The use of Mudra (seal)cited in Harivamsa indicates high
political consciousness and security measures adopted for defending Dvaraka which was of strategic
importance. MBH says that the city protected by nature was further protected by fortwalls - a fact brought to
light in excavation. In 1997 a fresh attempt was made by MAC to explore further seaward of Dvaraka
harbour in 14m depth to ascertain if the city extended further seaward of the ridge and whether any earlier
datable antiquity could be found which may enable us to revise the date (1700 B.C) but there was only
negative evidence. Before revising the present date from 1800-1700 B.C to 2000 B.C for Kusasthali-
Dvaraka, we should get some more chinching evidence. Hence it is desirable to be cautious in dating the
first submerged Dvaraka.
In this connection it must be remembered that archaeologists designate cultures as Pre-Harapan.
Harappan, Late Harappan etc., for want of better identification of the cultures of different phases of history
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in ancient texts. The designation 'Harappa culture' is enigmatic. However in the light of the discovery of
early Harappan sites on the ancient Sarasvati channel, the Indus (Harappa) civilization can be appropriately
called Sindhu-Sarasvati Civilization and its later phase (Late Harappa Culture) as the Mahabharata
Civilization traces of which can be seen in Kunal and Bhagwanpura in Kurukshetra region also in U.P and
Bihar and Southward in Narmada and Godavari valleys. In brief I can say that Dvaraka excavation has
demonstrated that Mahabharata is not a myth but an important source of history.
Shankhodhara During the last Session of the Conference Mr. Save wanted that Shakhodara near Dahanu-
Mumbai which is considered a holy place should be explored. The Master Mariner A. V Gupchup was kind
enough to undertake a preliminary survey of Shankhodhara and has sent a report stating that in the Zero
tide time the mud flats are exposed and a small
stone wall was visible. He observes that there is nothing significant about it. For dating purpose pottery is
necessary but it is not forthcoming. A lot ot conch shells occur here and wherever conch shell (Sankh) is
found the site is called Shankhodhar The location and physiographic features of this island do not tally with
those described in the Mahabharata and Harivamsa and there is no datable evidence also. The structure is
in all probability a medieval one.
Elephanta (Gharapuri)
The island of Elephanta is famous for its rock-cut temples and a Buddhist Stupa. But long before the sixth
century temples were excavated there appears to have been a flourishing port town extending over
Morabandar and Rajbandar There are several brick structures of the Gupta and post-Gupta periods in
Morabandar. The important relics of the Satavahana period come from the Rajbanadar side where a brick
wharf, about 4m high was exposed in the course of excavation undertaken by me on behalf of the
Archaeological Survey of India. This wharf was raised in height twice during the 4th-5th century A.D. when
Roman coins, amphoras and Red Polished Ware were in use. Later occupation in Medieval Period is
attested by Maratha and Portuguese coins. Recently Mr. Laud has brought to light a unique assemblage of
pottery of fine buff-to-crimson fabric, the main types being amphoras with two handles and jar with a single
handle. Some of the sherds were recovered from the seabed and others from the habitation site on shore.
The above mentioned vessels are different in fabric and shape from the Roman amphoras found in
Rajbandar wharf. A careful study of the pottery exhibited here by Mr. Laud may suggest closer resemblance
with Phoenician vessels illustrated by Harden and in this connection I must add that I had the opportunity to
study the pottery of the Biblical site of Ugarit (Ras Shamra in Syria) excavated by Prof. C.F.A. Sheffeur.
Could it be that the Phoenicians identified with the Panis of the Rigveda had trade connections in the first
millennium B.C. with Elephanta? Did the Canaanites of mid second millennium B.C., borrow the Indus
alphabets for their consonantal value? (See Donald Harden The Phoenicians 1971, Pengiun, p.21 and also
Rao S.R. 1982. The Decipherment of Indus Script). Perhaps more definitive evidence may be forthcoming
if underwater and surface excavations are undertaken in Elephanta. This is likely to throw some light on the
transgression of the sea 2500 years ago if not earlier. We have already some evidence of sea level rise in
Dwarka, Bet Dwarka, Pindara and Vijaydurga. The date of partial submergence of Supara and Gharapuri
(Elephanta) will be of importance to oceanographers.

Maritime Activity of Konkan/Karnataka & Kerala Ports

A fairly reliable account of the Maritime activity of the Marathas and their naval power has been given by
Apte. His account is based on the Records of the Peshwa Daftar Mr. P Gudigar also made a study ot the
Marine Records in the Archives of the Government of Maharashtra. The shipwrecks mentioned in these
records, mostly of the I6th to l9th century have been listed in the National Register of shipwrecks in Indian
waters maintained by the Marine Archaeology Centre of NIO. But this work could not be completed as the
service ot an Expert in Modi script was needed; It is hoped that the Government of Maharashtra will come
forward not only to get these data collected by MAC but also to survey the wrecks on Maharashtra coast
which will throw a flood of light on trade, naval battles and cultural interaction with Foreign countries.
Systematic exploration of Thane and Kalyan is also a necessity to assess their role in overseas trade.
The Marine Archaeologists have studied the ancient ports of Maharashtra namely, Sopara, Gharapuri,
Cheul, Vijaydurg and some of the ports on Karnataka coast namely Honnavar, Bhatkal and Malpe, but a lot
a more needs to be done and actual offshore exploration for wrecks and submerged ports is yet to begin
except in the case of Vijaydurg where the MAC of NIO has come across a submerged wharf and a few
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stone anchors. The history of West coast ports and maritime activity is yet to be Fully reconstructed. The
study ot the above mentioned ports made so Ear has been published in the Proceedings of the Marine
Archaeological Conferences held so far. But the Maritime activity of the Satavahana rulers, Kshatrapas,
Guptas, Trailaitakas, Gujarat Solankis, Kadambas, Silaharas and other is hardly known. It is high time that
the Universities of littoral states take up this study in right earnest.
East coast ports: Maritime Activity
The Universities of Andhra, Madras and Thanjavur have evinced keen interest in studying and excavating
ancient ports on west coast. For example, the Tamil Nadu Government and NIO have explored Tranquebar
and Pumpuhar, but constraint o funds has come in the way of further research. The Andhra University has
established a Centre for Marine Archaeology with a chair for the subject. This is a very encouraging sign.
The Tamil University has a small centre for Marine Archaeology and the Vice-Chancellor of Goa University
has asked me to send a note For establishing a centre. I hope Bombay university, will not lag behind.

Role of Archaeological Survey of India in promoting Marine Archaeological Research:

The Departments of Science & Technology and Ocean Development of Government of India and C.S.I.R.
have been supporting Marine Archaeological Research for the last 17 years with occasional grants.
Fortunately NIO has been its main-stay, but the Archaeological Survey of India, the largest organization in
the world which initially gave some funds is yet to take adequate interest in underwater archaeology In fact it
should be a nodal organization and establish an Institute of Marine Archaeology. Until this is done adequate
financial assistance should be given to MAC in NIO. Underwater Cultural Heritage can no longer be
neglected in view of the fact that the UNO is bringing forward a convention drafted by the UNESCO
sponsored International committee for underwater archaeology (I.C.U.C.H.) of which I am a member
Another member is cdr Somasiri of Sri Lanka who is here.
This convention will provide guide lines to regulate underwater archaeological excavation to protect and
preserve underwater cultural Heritage. India, with rich underwater cultural remains, cannot afford to lag
behind in listing, surveying and excavating shipwrecks and submerged ports on lndian coast. Immediate
steps are necessary to establish a training centre for marine archaeology of introduce marine archaeology
as an important undergraduate and post-graduate courses in universities.
It is interesting to find that Tamil Nadu has sanction funds for Maritime Museum at Pumpuhar
Preservation of the Submerged Buildings of Ancient Dvaraka
The government of Gujarat evinced for sometime interest in establishing a maritime museum at Dwaraka
and preserving the submerged site which forms the most important underwater cultural Heritage of India. I
submitted a proposal with technical details for preservation of the site and the Gujarat Government Tourist
Corporation held meetings with a foreign expert for promoting Dwaraka as a Tourist Destination.
Unfortunately no followup action is forthcoming. The entire nation and even foreign countries is anxiously
awaiting for the preservation of the unique submerged only of Dvaraka which is not only of historical
importance but also of emotional interest since its founder was Lord Krishna.

Prof Goddio's discovery of Cleopatra's palace in the Bay of Alexandria, on which there is a paper by me,
will be of interest to all.

I am grateful to Dr Bedekar for his unflinching zeal in organizing this conference and to Dr. De Sa and Dr.
Untawale for support by way of sponsorship by NIO. My thanks are due to Capt. Dhopate, Dr. B.N. Desai
Sri Ajai Shankar, to all my colleagues in NIO and participants in the conference for promoting Marine
Archaeological Research in India.

Note: Ancient town of Dvaraka is distinguished from modern town spelt Dwarka.

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