Ancient site · City
Lothal
One of the southernmost Indus towns, in Gujarat near the Gulf of Khambhat. Excavated from 1955, it had a raised acropolis, a lower town with drains, and bead-making workshops of carnelian and shell.
Its most famous feature is a large brick basin that the excavator S. R. Rao identified as the world's oldest dock, linked to a river channel; other archaeologists think it was a water tank for irrigation or storage. Floods damaged the town around 1900 BCE.
- Dates
- c. 2300–1900 BCE
- Still standing
- Yes
- Location
- 22.52° N, 72.25° E
How we know
The Indus script is undeciphered; dated by the 1955–60 excavations and radiocarbon, and the use of its big basin is disputed.
Nearby sites
- Junagadh rock inscriptions (Girnar) Ashoka c. 250 BCE; Rudradaman c. 150 CE; Skandagupta c. 456 CE
- Dholavira c. 3000–1500 BCE (phases debated)
- Submerged structures off Dwarka disputed: c. 1500 BCE (S. R. Rao) or historical to medieval times
- Ajanta Caves (early caves) early caves c. 2nd century BCE–1st century CE; second phase c. 460–480 CE
- Karla Caves 2nd century BCE–5th century CE
- Bhimbetka rock shelters paintings c. 10,000 BCE (Mesolithic) to medieval times; occupation far older