Home   »   Current Affairs 2024   »   National Maritime Heritage Complex

National Maritime Heritage Complex development in Lothal

About National Maritime Heritage Complex

  • Purpose: The project aims to showcase India’s 4,500-year-old maritime heritage and will become the world’s greatest maritime complex once completed.
  • Components: The complex will include several features such as a Lighthouse Museum and a five-dimensional theatre offering interactive experiences.
  • Development: By the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.

About Lothal

  • Location: Lothal, a southernmost site of the Indus Valley Civilization, is believed to have been built around 2200 BC.
    • It is located along the Bhogava river, a tributary of Sabarmati, in the Gulf of Khambhat (Gujarat).
  • Meaning: The name Lothal means “mound of the dead” in Gujarati.
  • Discovered by: SR Rao.
    • Excavation took place from 1955 to 1960.

National Maritime Heritage Complex development in Lothal_4.1

  • Features:
    • Only port-town of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
    • It was known for its harbour, cotton and rice-growing, and bead-making industry.
    • It was part of a coastal trade route, linking sites such as Dholavira and Sutkagen Dor on the Makran coast.
    • It was divided into a citadel (upper town) and a lower town.
    • Buildings were made of fire-dried bricks, lime, and sand mortar.
    • The city had a well-planned and sophisticated drainage system.
  • Key Archaeological Findings:
    • Dockyard
    • Persian Gulf Seals
    • Shops for shell ornaments and beads
    • Metal worker’s shop
    • Fire altars
    • Terracotta house figurine
    • Warehouse
    • Merchant house
    • Cloth impressions on some seals
    • Twelve bathrooms in the citadel
    • Well
    • Ivory Scale: The smallest known decimal scale from the Indus civilization.
  • UNESCO Nomination: Lothal was nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in April 2014.
    • It has not yet been granted full World Heritage status.

Sharing is caring!

About the Author

I, Sakshi Gupta, am a content writer to empower students aiming for UPSC, PSC, and other competitive exams. My objective is to provide clear, concise, and informative content that caters to your exam preparation needs. I strive to make my content not only informative but also engaging, keeping you motivated throughout your journey!