Heritage: Archaeological finds in Gulf of Cambay

[Nadeem Jamali <jamali@CS.UIUC.EDU>]

From BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1345000/1345150.stm

Tuesday, 22 May, 2001, 18:14 GMT 19:14 UK
Indian seabed hides ancient remains

By Rajyasri Rao in Delhi

Marine experts have discovered a clump of archaeological
structures deep beneath the sea off India's western coast.

Although the discovery has not yet been accurately dated, the
structures are said to resemble archeological sites belonging
to the Harappan civilisation, dating back more than 4,000
years.

This is the first time man-made structures have been found in
this part of the Arabian Sea which is known as the Gulf of
Cambay.

The team leader, M Ravindran, told the BBC that they first
noticed the huge structures while examining acoustic images
collected from under the sea bed.

Ancient settlement?

The group was routinely investigating the Gulf of Cambay to
monitor pollution levels, using devices able to penetrate at
least 10 metres deep beneath the sea bed.

The images gathered over the past six months led to a surprising
discovery - a series of well-defined geometric formations were clearly
seen, spread irregularly across a nine-kilometre (five-mile) stretch,
a little beneath the sea bed.

Some of them closely resemble an acropolis - or great bath - known to
be characteristic of the Harappan civilisation.

The Gulf of Cambay is one of the largest tidal areas in the world -
with a current of very high velocity - and so it is conceivable that
the area may well have submerged an entire ancient settlement, Mr
Ravindran said.

But archaeologists are far more sceptical.

Closer study

A leading marine archaologist says that far more detailed
investigations need to be done to confirm the exact date of the
structures.

S R Rao, who has spent years researching the nearby Gulf of Kutch,
said the only conclusive way of establishing the antiquity of the site
was by studying pieces of submerged pottery from the same area.

Mr Rao's own research led to the discovery of the first tidal dock in
the world - built at around 2300 BC in the port town of Lothal - at
the head of the Gulf of Cambay.

But he says much more research and evidence is required to categorise
the latest discovery in the same manner.

Numerous Harappan archeological sites have been found in northern and
western India, as well as neighbouring Pakistan.