18 Oct Prelims Bits: Lothal: An Ancient Hub of Metallurgy and Trade.
This article covers “ prelims related topic Lothal: An Ancient Hub of Metallurgy and Trade
SYLLABUS MAPPING:
GS: Art and architecture in ancient India.
FOR PRELIMS:
Key facts related to the Lothal: location, metallurgy, religion, export, engineering, and other facts.
WHY IN THE NEWS:
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat. The project will be completed in two phases.
Lothal: An Ancient Hub of Metallurgy and Trade
1. Location and Early Settlement: Lothal, situated in the Indus Valley near the Gulf of Khambhat, began as a small village with a prosperous economy before 3000 BCE, evidenced by copper objects, beads, and semi-precious stones. The indigenous culture developed fine ceramic wares and a unique firing technique known as black-and-red ware.
2. Town Planning and Architecture: After a devastating flood around 2350 BCE, Harappans established a planned township with an acropolis for rulers featuring advanced facilities and a complex drainage system, alongside a lower town for residential and commercial activities. Structures were made of kiln-fired bricks and mortar, contributing to their preservation over 4,000 years.
3. Economy and Culture: Lothal thrived as a trade hub, exporting beads, gemstones, and ivory while importing raw materials like copper and chert. High-quality tools and ornaments were produced with a uniform standard, though trade declined after the major flood around 1900 BCE, leading to a shift from independent businesses to a factory system.
4. Engineering and Sanitation: The city featured an advanced drainage system with underground drains, cesspools, and inspection chambers, reflecting sophisticated urban planning. Artifacts like ivory scales with decimal divisions and stone weights indicate advanced engineering practices.
5. Religion and Cultural Practices: The people practiced fire worship and animal sacrifice, with evidence of private and public fire-altars. There is speculation about the worship of a horned deity and possible cremation practices due to limited burial sites.
6. Later Developments: After the decline of the Indus civilization, a smaller, less urbanized community persisted in Lothal, maintaining some Harappan traditions but experiencing significant cultural and economic degradation.
7. Metallurgy and Jewelry: Lothal was known for its notably pure copper, with minimal arsenic, distinguishing it from other Indus Valley sources, and imported copper ingots from the Arabian Peninsula. Artisans created tools like celts and chisels and jewelry including bangles and rings, utilizing advanced casting methods and innovative tools unique to the time.
8. Shell and Ivory Crafting: The city became a prominent center for shell working, crafting various products for local use and export. An organized ivory workshop was discovered, revealing seals and pieces used for boxes, combs, and ear-studs.
9. Gold Jewelry: Lothal produced an array of gold ornaments, with unique items such as microbeads less than 0.25 mm in diameter, and rings resembling modern Hindu wedding rings made from twisted copper wire.
10. Art and Bead Industry: Lothal’s etched carnelian beads were highly sought after, with evidence of their trade in regions as far as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran. The advanced bead-making techniques used by artisans remained unchanged for over 4,000 years, producing unique designs like double-eye agate beads.
11. Seals and Pottery: A significant number of seals (213) were discovered, featuring engravings of animals and short inscriptions. Lothal introduced new pottery forms, with realistic depictions of animal scenes showcasing advanced artistic skills.
12. Terra-Cotta Artifacts: Excavations revealed complete sets of terra-cotta gamesmen and realistic human and animal figures, indicating a sophisticated understanding of anatomy and motion.
13. Urban Planning: The city covered an area of approximately 285 m (north-to-south) by 228 m (east-to-west) at its peak, primarily constructed with mud bricks. Remains of houses, drains, wells, and paved bathing platforms are still visible.
14. Dockyard Features: Lothal’s trapezoidal dock, measuring 215 m (north-to-south) by 35 m (east-to-west), featured an inlet and sluice gates, indicating advanced engineering for cargo movement, facilitated by a mudbrick wharf leading directly to a warehouse.
15. Acropolis and Lower Town: The political and commercial center of Lothal featured well-structured mud-brick buildings, bathing platforms, and residences, while the lower town marketplace was organized along a main street lined with workshops, including bead and metalworking facilities.
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PRELIMS QUESTION
Q. With reference to the Lothal an IVC city, Consider the following statement:
1. Settlement at Lothal started during the Early Indus Valley Civilization.
2. Buddhism was prevalent in the Lothal settlement during the mature Harappan period.
3. There was no evidence of the metallurgical and engineering work found at Lothal.
How many of the above-given statements are correct?
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None
ANSWER: B
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