Abstract: Lothal is an important Harappan maritime trade centre known for its dockyard and other artefacts, such as a Gulf-type seal and a plano-convex copper ingot of intercultural trade relations. It strategically connects a crucial trade network between the Gulf of Khambhat and the Rann of Kachchh. Its location is closer to the raw material resources like agate-carnelian, steatite, copper ore and probably the timber resources of southern Gujarat and nearby areas. The industrial activities at Lothal are a testimony to the procurement and distribution networks due to this location. While some scholars question the dockyard hypothesis of Lothal, the outlined factors undeniably validate its importance as a maritime hub. Nevertheless, numerous crucial inquiries regarding inland transportation, navigation techniques, possible navigable paths via the Nal Corridor, and the presence of hinterland sites remain unattended from a landscape perspective. These spatial inquiries can be more effectively addressed through a deeper understanding of the landscape dynamics of the region. This study employed several geospatial techniques to understand the palaeolandscape around Lothal. The study was extended beyond Lothal into the Nal-Bhal corridor connecting the Gulf of Khambhat and Rann of Kachchh. The investigation revealed interesting palaeofeatures and offered new insights into inland navigation networks. This talk will highlight key findings from the study, shedding new light on Harappan maritime connections and strengthening the existing hypotheses.
About the speaker: Dr. Ekta Gupta, previously working as an Early Career Fellow at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, is now set to embark on a new journey as a Juan De la Cierva Fellow at the Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology (ICAC) in Spain. She got her doctoral degree from the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru in Feb 2022. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates insights from cartography, archaeology, geomorphology, remote sensing, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to understand cultural and physical landscapes. Specialised in GIS and Remote Sensing (RS) based archaeology and geoarchaeology, she has been exploring hidden archaeological sites, ancient hydrological systems, and palaeolandscapes through a blend of techniques. She has received a few prestigious awards and fellowships, including the Juan De la Cierva Fellowship at ICAC, the Early Career Fellowship at IIT Gandhinagar (Oct 2021-Sept 2023), NIAS PhD Fellowship (2016-2020) and the Nehru Trust UK Visiting fellowship (Jul-Sept 2018). Beyond her research, she actively engaged in imparting training to students, research scholars, and professionals, and outreach programs.