Author: A S Gaur
Sundaresh/K H Vora
Publisher: Aryan
Year: 2005
Language: English
Pages: 168
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8173052980
Description
The book incorporates archaeological findings, both from land and under-water explorations, carried out at Bet Dwarka by the Marine Archaeology Centre of the National Institute of Oceanography, Goa.
Bet Dwarka is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Okhamandal region of Gujarat as it has preserved the longest cultural sequence, commencing from protohistoric period to modern times. The time bracket of archaeological remains have been well supported by the scientific dates such as Carbon, AMS and Thermoluminescence. Other important scientific aspects discussed in the book are analysis of bones, palynological studies, impact of seismic activities and sea level changes of the study area.
The book begins with an introduction to the geological, geographic, archaeological and environmental background of the region and then devotes a chapters to chronology, dealing with cultural and scientific dates from the site. Planning and layout of trenches and cultural findings and identification of layers have been described in a separate chapter. A full chapter has been devoted to antiquities discovered during the excavation which includes beads of terracotta, shell, glass, stone and fish bone, copper objects, coins, shell bangles and iron objects. Another chapters comprises of the detailed description of the pottery of the protohistoric and historical period. The concluding chapter deals with the shell remains from the island of Bet Dwarka.
It is hoped that the book will help in understanding the maritime activities of the Okhamandal region and the cultural sequence of the Bet Dwarka island. Profusely illustrated with maps, line drawings and plates, the book will interest the general reader and the students and scholars of archaeology.
Contents
FOREWORD
PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ACRONYMS
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
1. Introduction
1.1 Problem
1.2 Traditional and Literary Background
1.3 Geographical and Geological Background
1.4 Environmental Background
1.4.1 Temperature
1.4.2 Humidity
1.4.3 Wind
1.4.4 Flora
2. Chronology
2.1 Proto-historic Period
2.2 Historical Period
2.2.1 Phase I
2.2.2 Phase II
2.2.3 Phase III
3. Cuttings and structures
3.1 BDK-I
3.2 BDK-II
3.3 BDK-III
3.4 BDK-IV
3.5 BDK-V
3.6 BDK-VI
4. Antiquities
4.1 Terracotta Beads
4.2 Shell Beads
4.3 Glass Beads
4.4 Stone Beads
4.5 Fish Bone Beads
4.6 Bone Artifacts
4.7 Terracotta Objects
4.8 Terracotta and Stone Balls
4.9 Stone Objects
4.10 Copper Objects
4.11 Iron Objects
4.12 Copper Coins
5. Pottery
5.1 Period I
5.1.1 Red ware
5.1.2 Buff ware
5.1.3 Black ware
5.1.4 Grey ware
5.1.5 Painted potsherds
5.1.6 Slipped ware
5.1.7 Pottery description
5.2 Period II
5.2.1 Red Polished Ware
5.2.2 Amphorae
5.2.3 Coarse Red Ware
5.2.4 Burnished Ware
5.2.5 Description of Pottery
6. Ancient Shell Industry at Bet Dwarka Island
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Excavations
6.3 Chank (Turbinella pyrum)
6.4 Chicoreus remosus
6.5 Other Shells
6.6 Bangles Manufacturing
6.7 Bead Manufacturing
6.8 Ladle
6.9 Absolute Dates from Shells for Archaeological Site at Bet Dwarka
6.10 Conclusion
Annexures
A. Report of Animal Bones Collected from Bet Dwarka Island, Gujarat - P.P. Joglekar
B. Palynological Study of Sedimentary Soil Sequences from bet Dwarka Island - A Farooqui
C. Late Harappan Copper Fishhook: Evidence on the Advance Fishing Technology in Ancient India - A.S. Gaur and Sundaresh
D. The Signature of Seismic Activity During Early Historical Period in bet Dwarka - C.P. Rajendran and Kusala Rajendran
E. Sea Level Changes During Last 2000 Years Around Bet Dwarka Island - A.S. Gaur, K.H. Vora and Sundaresh
F. Underwater Investigations in Bet Dwarka Island - A.S. Gaur and Sundaresh
G. Conservation of Antiquities - B.G. Naik
REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX