About Lothal

• Discovered: In 1953 by Indian archaeologist S.R. Rao.
• Location: The southernmost site of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) and the only known port town.
• It is positioned along the Bhogava River, a tributary of the Sabarmati, close to the Gulf of Khambhat.
• Etymology: The name "Lothal" is derived from the Gujarati words “Loth” (meaning "dead") and “thal” (meaning "mound"), translating to “the mound of the dead.”
• Trade: It served as a bustling trade center for beads, gems, and ornaments, exporting goods to West Asia and Africa. The dockyard there facilitated maritime trade with regions such as Mesopotamia and Egypt.
• Major Excavations
  • First manmade port
  • Dockyard
  • Rice husk
  • Fire altars
  • Chess playing
• Key Features
  • Tidal Dockyard: The oldest known artificial dockyard in the world, connecting the city to an ancient course of the Sabarmati River.
  • Architecture: The site is divided into two main areas: the Citadel (Upper Town) and the Lower Town.
  • Seals: Lothal contains the third-largest number of seals among IVC sites, depicting various animals, including short-horned bulls, mountain goats, tigers, and composite creatures like the elephant bull.
  • Pottery: Redware pottery was commonly used for everyday activities.
  • Terracotta Art: Includes gamesmen resembling modern chess pieces and animal figures with wheels and movable heads, likely used as toys.