Rupesh Samant
PANJIM: Scientists have come across a historically important and remarkable discovery of the port on Goa’s Zuari River, which is expected to be the amongst the oldest signs of human trade on the Central west coast and may be contemporary to Dwarka in Gujarat.
The researchers say they may discover dockyard similar in structure to Lothal dockyard (4500 years old) discovered by Archeological Survey of India (ASI) in Gujarat in 1954.
National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) scientists are working on 1.2 kilometer long wall that is currently buried along the Zuari River, near Pilar which is expected to be a part of old port existed anywhere between 1000 and 3500-year.
“This area was earlier known as Gopakapattinam. The exploration work on the site is done and scientists have found the steps going in the water. It is imminent that existence of such a big wall parallel to the river indicates that it is a remnant of a port,” said Dr Rajiv Nigam, head of Marine Archeology unit of CSIR-NIO.
The experimental surveys conducted by the researchers of Marine Archaeology Unit of the National Institute of Oceanography have revealed the existence of cross walls which stand inundated in the water. “We will now be submitting a proposal to the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences and/or Goa government to conduct further detailed exploration of this site,” said Dr Nigam.
He said radio carbon and thermo-luminance (TL) dating of the sediment is required to find the correct age of this ancient port. “Also to unearth other buried structures, we want to do ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey in sandy beach area and seismic surveys in offshore areas,” he added.
The researcher said that the port might be older than Mormugao Port.
“If we get the proposal sanctioned, we will be able to conduct the entire study within two years. This can be a major tourist attraction in Goa,” Dr Nigam said, adding till date only Gujarat is known for its signature of ancient cities.
The initial observations have concluded that this port might be connected to Old Goa, ancient capital of Goa, through Rajvidhi (Road built and used for the King). “If the project comes through it will be big discovery for central west coast of India. This was a very flourishing harbour of ancient time,” he said.
The scientist feels that there are many such ports submerged on the western coast and discovery of this is just a beginning.
