Author:
Publication: Tribune
Date: May 19, 2001
The Bhuj quake rekindled the quake
theory for the disappearance of the Indus Valley civilisation, and the
discovery of artifacts in the Gulf of Cambay in Gujarat dating to 4000
to 6000 B.C. has given a new dimension and hope to archaeologists in understanding
the Harappan civilisation.
Underwater images of several geometric
objects in the Gulf, which are normally man made, have been captured by
a team of scientists from the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).
They were surveying the area, said
the Union Minister for Ocean Development and Science and Technology, Dr
Murli Manohar Joshi, here today.
"The acoustic images point to the
existence of ruins resembling the discoveries at Harappa, under the sea
bed," he said.
Dr Joshi said an area spanning 9
km west of Hazira in Gujarat was found to be lined with well-laid house
basement like features, partially covered by sand ripples at a depth of
30 to 40 metres.
At many places channel like features
were also seen indicating the possible existence of proper drainage system
in the area, he said.
A great bath measuring 41m x 25m
with steps visible through the images, indicated the similarity of this
new discovery to the great bath found at Mohanjadaro and Harappa, he said.
In the first such findings from
the Gulf of Cambay, the ocean scientists sighted an acropolis measuring
97m x 25m under the sea bed.
Among the findings was also a 44m
x 19m structure with semblance to a temple, Dr Joshi said.
Stating the findings indicates the
existence of an ancient civilisation in the area, he said it could have
been submerged in the wake of a powerful earthquake in the Kutch region.
Further survey of the area would
be undertaken by the NIOT with the assistance of the Department of Archaeology.
