The
carbon dating of the wooden artifact, which
was recently carried out by the Birbal Sahani
Institute of Palaeobotony and the National
Geophysical Research Institute, indicates
that the settlements, accidentally discovered
by a team of oceanographers, could be one
of the oldest Neolithic sites discovered
in India till date.
The
discovery follows a series of surveys conducted
by the National Institute of Ocean Technology
(NIOT) during 2000 to 2001. According to
Dr B. Sasisekaran, research associate in
the National Science Academy, ‘‘The
carbon dating of 7,500 B.C. obtained for
the wooden piece recovered from the site
changes the earlier held view that the first
cities appeared on the horizon around 3,500
B.C. (the Sumer valley around circa 3,000
B.C. and at Harappa circa 2,500 B.C.)’’.
The
material collected at the site include artefacts,
possible construction elements with holes
and studs, pot shreds, beads and fossil
bones.
At
a press conference today, Minister for Science
and Technology and Ocean Development, Murli
Manohar Joshi, said, ‘‘The impact
of these discoveries will be far-reaching.
Not only would they link various theories
regarding earliest human settlements in
the country, it would also open avenues
for understanding the geomorphic characteristics
of the Gulf of Cambay.’’ The
presence of an archaeological site indicative
of a very ancient culture in the Gulf of
Cambay was first announced by the ministry
in May last year.
Subsequently,
further underwater explorations were carried
out in the area which yielded a cache of
artifacts suggesting an ancient culture.
Professor
S.N. Rajguru, former joint director and
head of department of Archaeology at Deccan
College, said, ‘‘These collections
representan exciting breakthrough in offshore
archaeology. The findings indicate that
the entire landscape between Bhavnagar and
Hazira were probably connected around 7,000
B.C.’’
The
acoustic images of the area present channel-like
features, indicating the presence of a river
in the region ‘‘Geometrical
structures and the antiquities have been
discovered in an area only within 200 m
adjoining the channel indicating human activity
on the banks of the river that was present
at that time,’’ Prof Rajguru
added.
Having
discovered indications of a possible settlement
earlier in 2001, NIOT scientists undertook
a confirmatory survey in November 2001 in
the Gulf of Cambay area, by using advanced
marineunderwater survey techniques with
side-scan sonar and sub-bottom profiler.
Images
taken of the site revealed structures similar
to staircases, temples and bathrooms, said
Joshi, adding that further investigations
were necessary.He said the findings would
be submitted to scientific journals within
10-15 days.‘‘Further investigation
of this area is important as this has implications
and might throw some light on the development
of humancivilisation, besides having a bearing
on Indian history,’’ Joshi said.
Accordingly,
the government has decided to form a specialised
group of archaeological experts from NIOT,
National Institute of Oceanography, Archaeological
Survey of India, Physical Research Laboratory,
Lucknow and BSIP and NGRI.
