Located in Gujarat, Dholavira was the largest port-town of the Harappan civilization that flourished for about 1,500 years. Researchers have been perplexed about why the civilization came to an abrupt end. Archaeological excavations indicate that the township comprised of the castle, the middle town and the lower town.
Dholavira is the oldest known site in the world which could have been hit by the tsunami, experts at the NIO said. As per their latest findings, there is the indication of marine sediments possibly transported to the site by an extreme oceanic incident, which they attribute to the tsunami.
A team of palaeo-climatologists, marine archaeologists and geophysicists from NIO surveyed an unexcavated area of the lower town using ground penetrating radar (GPR).
What lay beneath the surface were remains of construction from the civilization that were buried under a layer of 2.5 to 3.5 meter thick homogenous soil.
After systematically collecting the soil samples and examining the same, the scientists found fossils of foraminifera, that is, microscopic organisms that build calcareous shells and live only in seawater.
The presence of these shells in the soil strongly suggests an episodic deposition of marine sediments in the area. “The deposition of such a component from seawater into the soil could have occurred due to forceful movement caused by an extreme oceanic event, like the tsunami,” said director, NIO, Dr S W A Naqvi.
One of the most intriguing features of Dholavira is the presence of a 14-18 meters thick wall at the site.
Dholavira was well connected to the ocean 5,000 years ago but it’s not anymore owing to shifts due to tectonic movement. Further research will enable NIO to date the calcareous shells and determine when the tsunami may have taken place.
NIO doesn’t have a mandate for excavation as the authority for the same is only under the archaeological survey of India (ASI). They are optimistic that the ASI will go ahead with the excavation.
NIO doesn’t have a mandate for excavation as the authority for the same is only under the archaeological survey of India (ASI). They are optimistic that the ASIwill go ahead with the excavation.