Key Facts about Lothal

About Lothal:

• Lothal is an excavated site situated in the Bhal region in Dholka, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. 
• It is one of the prominent cities of the ancient Indus Valley civilization (IVC). The origin and history of Lothal can be dated back to 2400 BC.
• Lothal was one of the southern cities of the IVC, located in the Gulf of Khambat region. 
• It is the only port town of the IVC.
• Lothal was discovered by SR Rao, an Indian archaeologist, in 1954.
• Literally called 'Mound of the Dead', this ancient and desolate ruined city of Lothal provides insight into the life of the Harappan culture and the IVC.
• Like other cities of the Indus Valley Civilization, Lothal too had excellent architecture and town planning.
• Excavations have revealed that the town was divided into two parts. 
  • The upper part, oracropolis, was where the ruler and other important people of the city lived, while the lower part was meant for the common people.
• The entire city had a scientific drainage system, well-laid paved roads, and a bath for every house, some of which were double-storied and built on mud platforms.
• The most architecturally sophisticated part of Lothal was its dockyard, which provided berthing facilities for the ships. 
  • It is the world’s oldest known artificial dock, which was connected to an old course of the Sabarmati River.
• Lothal has enjoyed the status of being the leading center of trade in bygone times.
  • It was actively involved in the trade of beads, gems, and expensive ornaments that were exported to West Asia and Africa.
• Pottery was another flourishing industry.
• The ruins of a fire altar suggest that the people of Lothal worshipped the fire god along with the sea god.

Q1: What is the Indus Valley civilization (IVC)?

IVC is the earliest known urban culture of the northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the world’s three earliest civilizations along with Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. This civilization flourished from approximately 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE. Geographical factors including soil fertility, climate, and physical features contributed to the development of the Indus Valley civilization. Most of the sites discovered earlier, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, are present in the Indus valley which gives the name to it. Later sites such as Kalibangan, Lothal, Rakhigarhi, etc revealed similar features.

Source: IIT Delhi research student killed, three injured in cave-in at Lothal archaeological site in Gujarat