Lothal, one of the most important cities of the Indus Valley Civilization (Harappan Civilization), is located near the Gulf of Khambhat (formerly Cambay) in Gujarat, India. It was a significant trade and industrial hub around 2300 BCE and is famous for its advanced urban planning, dockyard, and bead-making industry.
1. The Dockyard
Size: 218 m x 37 m (715 ft x 121 ft).
Purpose: Served as a tidal dock, facilitating trade with Mesopotamia, Egypt, and other civilizations.
Built with well-baked bricks to withstand water pressure.
Had sluice gates to regulate water levels.
Connected to the Sabarmati River, which linked it to the Arabian Sea.
2. Trade & Commerce
Major exports: Beads, semi-precious stones, ornaments, ivory, and shell products.
Imports: Copper (from present-day Rajasthan and Oman), gold (from Karnataka), and other raw materials.
Evidence of Mesopotamian connection: Seals found at Lothal resemble those of Mesopotamian traders.
3. Bead-making Industry
Lothal was a major center for carnelian bead production.
Beads were made from agate, jasper, and carnelian using advanced drilling techniques.
4. Urban Planning
Divided into a Citadel (elite area) and Lower Town (common people’s residential area).
Houses had bathrooms and drainage systems, showcasing advanced sanitation.
Brick-lined streets and a well-organized layout indicate early town planning.
5. Important Discoveries at Lothal
Seals and sealings (indicating trade and administration).
Weighing scales and weights (used in trade).
Copper and bronze tools, terracotta figurines, and pottery.
A burial site with evidence of a unique double burial system (suggesting cultural practices different from other Harappan sites).
Around 1900 BCE, Lothal started declining due to:
Flooding caused by tectonic activities.
Drying up of river channels, reducing its importance as a port.
Collapse of the Harappan Civilization due to environmental and economic factors.
