Underwater Archaeology of Dwarka and Somnath (1997-2002)

Dwarka has always evoked keen interest among scholars and researchers because of its links with the Mahabharata, which mentions sea level changes much before the concept was developed and accepted in oceanography/marine geology. It was therefore naturally the first site to be taken up for marine archaeological exploration in India. The sea off Dwarka has been explored since 1982 for marine archeological purpose and the findings have attracted the attention of media and the common man. Archaeological findings such as a large number and variety of stone anchors suggest that Dwarka was a very busy port during the historical and the medieval periods. The present book details the scientific analysis of systematic explorations carried out between 1998 and 2002. The archaeological findings from Dwarka have been compared with the findings from various sites along the Saurashtra coast to provide relative information. The type of the antiquities recovered from the sea bed is indicative of the involvement of ancient man in maritime activities. This book discusses extensively the date and identification of anchors and other objects recovered from underwater exploration. The book also addresses some of the controversies that arose during early stage of the exploration based on additional facts and findings collected. Divided into two major sections devoted to Dwarka and Somnath respectively, the book is profusely illustrated with underwater and surface photographs, drawings and tables. It is hoped that the book will provide valuable facts on the underwater archaeology of Dwarka and Somnath for readers and scholars to draw their own conclusions.