Ancient Lothal
The ancient Indus port of Lothal as envisaged by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Slides on Lothal a coastal archaeological site in Gujarat
Dockyard at Lothal in summer
The dominant sight at Lothal is the massive dockyard which has helped make this place so important to international archaeology.
Dockyard at Lothal after the rains
An inlet channel 1.7 meters above the bottom level of the 4.26 meter deep tank allowed excess water to escape. Other inlets prevented siltation of the tanks and erosion of the banks.
Warehouse at Lothal
A long wharf connected the dockyard to the main warehouse, which was located on a plinth some 3.5 meters above the ground.
The acropolis, Lothal
Near the warehouse, also on a high plinth, is the upper town or acropolis which spans 128 by 61 meters and has extensive drainage systems.
Kitchen of upper town with pot furnace in Lothal
Kitchen of upper town with pot furnace.
Lothal Pot Furnace
Pot Furnace
Cooking blocks in an upper town kitchen Lothal
The rooms of the upper town were obviously built for upper classes. They had private pathed brick baths and a remarkable network of drains and cesspools.
Row of private baths in Lothal
The proximity of the seat of power to the warehouse may have ensured that the ruler and his entourage could inspect stocks easily. An ivory workshop in the acropolis suggests that elephants may have been domesticated to produce the raw material.
Lothal Drainage system
An elaborate sanitary and drainage system, a hallmark of ancient Indus cities, is in evidence everywhere at Lothal.