Palaeo-coastline of Saurashtra, Gujarat: A study based on archaeological proxies

Abstract

<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";="" mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-bidi-font-family:mangal;="" mso-ansi-language:en-in;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:hi"="">Important archaeological sites of our investigation include Dwarka, Bet Dwarka, Kindar Kheda, Pindara, Somnath and sites in Gulf of Khambhat and evidences recorded from these sites include stone anchors, remains of jetties and other structures. While investigation on the coastal sites some habitation sites are in intertidal zone indicating the advancement of shoreline, examples include a few historical period sites in intertidal zone of Bet Dwarka island and a medieval period temple found in the sea at Pindara, whereas a few sites believe to be ancient ports are now situated far hinterland, thus suggesting the withdrawal of the sea in the recent past such as Kindar Kheda near Porbandar and Lothal in the Gulf of Khambhat. In the present paper we use archaeological evidences suggesting the change in shoreline pattern during the historical times. </span>