Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology, 2018
The Indian state of Odisha, with its long coastline facing the Bay of Bengal, extensive riverine ... more The Indian state of Odisha, with its long coastline facing the Bay of Bengal, extensive riverine network and convenient anchorages, has enjoyed a sustained maritime history. Nevertheless, the lack of archaeological excavation of ancient watercraft has meant that evidence for water transport in Odisha has come from other sources. This article examines iconographical representations of watercraft found in temples across Odisha, as well as some from palm leaf manuscripts of the 18th and 19th centuries. The vessels depicted are both riverine and seagoing, and sport different types of planking and constructional features—some unique to Odisha. This iconography emphasises the intimate association between the royal families, deities and mariners of Odisha, and the important role that boats and ships traditionally have had in Odishan trade, transportation and warfare, and as a visual symbol of prestige. The traditional boats of Odisha are unique in design and style, but traditional boatbuilding in the region is declining due to rapid industrialisation and incorporation of modern materials. It is urgent, then, to document such craft and their depictions in ancient art, both for posterity and to aid in understanding and interpreting the rich maritime history of the region.
Study of traditional boats has enhanced our knowledge on maritime past. Traditional boats are bot... more Study of traditional boats has enhanced our knowledge on maritime past. Traditional boats are both river and sea-worthy. These boats have been used in rivers for transporting cargo to inland ports from ships anchored in the sea and have often been used in naval warfare. In this paper an attempt has been made to study the sewn plank boats of Goa, their building techniques and other features in order to understand their quality and engaged them in the past for inland river transport system.
Dwarka, one of the best-studied underwater sites in India, has commanded much attraction, also be... more Dwarka, one of the best-studied underwater sites in India, has commanded much attraction, also because the site is considered as one of the four Dhamas (sacred place for pilgrimage) of the Hindu religion. According to ancient Sanskrit literature, the Lord Krishna founded the holy city of Dwarka, which subsequently got submerged under sea. Marine archaeological explorations off Dwarka have brought to light a large number of stone structures, which are semicircular, rectangular and square in shape in water depth ranging from inter tidal zone to 6 m. They are randomly scattered over a vast area. Besides these structures, a large number of varieties of stone anchors have been noticed along the structures as well as beyond 6 m water depth. These findings suggest that Dwarka was one of the most busy port centres during the past on the west coast of India. The comparative study of surrounding sites indicates that the date of the structures of Dwarka may be between Historical period and lat...
One of the greatest achievements of man is the invention of watercraft which has been used from t... more One of the greatest achievements of man is the invention of watercraft which has been used from the prehistoric period onwards. Over the centuries, varieties of watercraft were designed and developed. Timber was the main component required for construction of boats and ships since ancient times until it was replaced by iron or steel. Once the size and carrying capacity of vessels was enhanced and overseas trade became more frequent, superior quality of timber was used for building boats and ships which were seaworthy. Probably, the Ashtadhyayi of Panini (5th century BC) is the oldest Indian literary work mentioning the use of a variety of timbers. Timber species such as teak (Tectona grandis), sal (Shorea robusta), sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo), benteak (Lagestroemia microcarpa), etc. were used in shipbuilding. Among these, teakwood has been termed as most valued on account of its noble qualities, specifically, long-term durability, higher strength and stiffness and absence of developme...
In the maritime history of India, Orissa (ancient Kalinga) played a significant role in spreading... more In the maritime history of India, Orissa (ancient Kalinga) played a significant role in spreading Indian culture to other parts of the world, including Africa, Rome and Southeast Asia. Archaeologi-cal findings, explorations and excavations at various sites, epigraphical and numismatic evidences of different periods, and literary records, enabled the reconstruction of the maritime history of Orissa. In this paper an attempt has been made to trace the nature of trade and cultural contacts between Orissa and other countries of the world from various sources. Besides attacks by neighbouring king-doms, and unsound economic condition, the geological processes like tectonic activities, sea level changes and sedimentation were also equally responsible for the decline of ports of Orissa. However, the maritime traditions are preserved in the cultural festivals of Orissa, which are celebrated as com-memorative traditions.
Goa, being situated along the Arabian Sea of India, is known for maritime activities and traditio... more Goa, being situated along the Arabian Sea of India, is known for maritime activities and traditional boatbuilding throughout the history. Traditional folk songs of Goa frequently mention ‘Vodem ’ which denotes canoe. The recent discovery of stone panels with boat (canoe) motives bears testimony to the fact that the people were aware of boatbuilding since ancient times. The present paper discusses on traditional boats of Goa. The Goa coast provides good evidence of various types of traditional boats such as dugouts, extended dugouts with and without outrigger and plank built boats. Most of these boats are distributed along the coast except small dugouts and plank built boats which are noticed along the rivers. The construction of traditional boats passes through various stages like seasoning of timber, cutting, bending, joining of planks, fastening, sewing, outside treatment, etc. ‘Kharvi’, the fishing community of Goa have been involved in fishing, boatbuilding and maintenance. The ...
Onshore explorations were carried out in Dwarka, Bet Dwarka, Aramda, Kachhigadhi, Okhamadi and Am... more Onshore explorations were carried out in Dwarka, Bet Dwarka, Aramda, Kachhigadhi, Okhamadi and Amrapura area. At Dwarka about 1.6 km2 area was explored between water depths of 1.5 to 20 m off Samudranarayan temple. Diving was carried out at about 40 locations and 29 buoys were marked with the archaeological findings. Similarly underwater explorations were also undertaken in north and south of the present Bet Dwarka jetty at five different locations. Archaeological findings of the exploration in 1998 have been reported in this paper.
period, new ports were established mostly along the coastal regions. The reasons attributed to ab... more period, new ports were established mostly along the coastal regions. The reasons attributed to abandoning inland ports are: (a) bigger ships which had to carry more cargo, (b) larger vessels could withstand the flow of current, (c) advancement in shipbuilding and navigation techniques, and (d) sediment deposition leading to navigational hazards. In the case of Goa, Chandrapura (Chandor) was the oldest inland port. During the later epoch, port activity shifted downstream to Gopakapatana, on the northern bank of the River Zuari. During the 15th century AD, Old Goa, on the bank of the Mandovi River, served as an important trade centre. Most modern port in Goa was built at Mormugao in 1885 in the Zuari estuary. This paper delineates the most likely cause for the decline of Gopakapatana, in particular, as a trade centre, from a geo-historical and oceanographic perspective. A detailed look into the evolution of the morphology of this river bank reveals rapid accretion that led to the form...
Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology, 2018
The Indian state of Odisha, with its long coastline facing the Bay of Bengal, extensive riverine ... more The Indian state of Odisha, with its long coastline facing the Bay of Bengal, extensive riverine network and convenient anchorages, has enjoyed a sustained maritime history. Nevertheless, the lack of archaeological excavation of ancient watercraft has meant that evidence for water transport in Odisha has come from other sources. This article examines iconographical representations of watercraft found in temples across Odisha, as well as some from palm leaf manuscripts of the 18th and 19th centuries. The vessels depicted are both riverine and seagoing, and sport different types of planking and constructional features—some unique to Odisha. This iconography emphasises the intimate association between the royal families, deities and mariners of Odisha, and the important role that boats and ships traditionally have had in Odishan trade, transportation and warfare, and as a visual symbol of prestige. The traditional boats of Odisha are unique in design and style, but traditional boatbuilding in the region is declining due to rapid industrialisation and incorporation of modern materials. It is urgent, then, to document such craft and their depictions in ancient art, both for posterity and to aid in understanding and interpreting the rich maritime history of the region.
Study of traditional boats has enhanced our knowledge on maritime past. Traditional boats are bot... more Study of traditional boats has enhanced our knowledge on maritime past. Traditional boats are both river and sea-worthy. These boats have been used in rivers for transporting cargo to inland ports from ships anchored in the sea and have often been used in naval warfare. In this paper an attempt has been made to study the sewn plank boats of Goa, their building techniques and other features in order to understand their quality and engaged them in the past for inland river transport system.
Dwarka, one of the best-studied underwater sites in India, has commanded much attraction, also be... more Dwarka, one of the best-studied underwater sites in India, has commanded much attraction, also because the site is considered as one of the four Dhamas (sacred place for pilgrimage) of the Hindu religion. According to ancient Sanskrit literature, the Lord Krishna founded the holy city of Dwarka, which subsequently got submerged under sea. Marine archaeological explorations off Dwarka have brought to light a large number of stone structures, which are semicircular, rectangular and square in shape in water depth ranging from inter tidal zone to 6 m. They are randomly scattered over a vast area. Besides these structures, a large number of varieties of stone anchors have been noticed along the structures as well as beyond 6 m water depth. These findings suggest that Dwarka was one of the most busy port centres during the past on the west coast of India. The comparative study of surrounding sites indicates that the date of the structures of Dwarka may be between Historical period and lat...
One of the greatest achievements of man is the invention of watercraft which has been used from t... more One of the greatest achievements of man is the invention of watercraft which has been used from the prehistoric period onwards. Over the centuries, varieties of watercraft were designed and developed. Timber was the main component required for construction of boats and ships since ancient times until it was replaced by iron or steel. Once the size and carrying capacity of vessels was enhanced and overseas trade became more frequent, superior quality of timber was used for building boats and ships which were seaworthy. Probably, the Ashtadhyayi of Panini (5th century BC) is the oldest Indian literary work mentioning the use of a variety of timbers. Timber species such as teak (Tectona grandis), sal (Shorea robusta), sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo), benteak (Lagestroemia microcarpa), etc. were used in shipbuilding. Among these, teakwood has been termed as most valued on account of its noble qualities, specifically, long-term durability, higher strength and stiffness and absence of developme...
In the maritime history of India, Orissa (ancient Kalinga) played a significant role in spreading... more In the maritime history of India, Orissa (ancient Kalinga) played a significant role in spreading Indian culture to other parts of the world, including Africa, Rome and Southeast Asia. Archaeologi-cal findings, explorations and excavations at various sites, epigraphical and numismatic evidences of different periods, and literary records, enabled the reconstruction of the maritime history of Orissa. In this paper an attempt has been made to trace the nature of trade and cultural contacts between Orissa and other countries of the world from various sources. Besides attacks by neighbouring king-doms, and unsound economic condition, the geological processes like tectonic activities, sea level changes and sedimentation were also equally responsible for the decline of ports of Orissa. However, the maritime traditions are preserved in the cultural festivals of Orissa, which are celebrated as com-memorative traditions.
Goa, being situated along the Arabian Sea of India, is known for maritime activities and traditio... more Goa, being situated along the Arabian Sea of India, is known for maritime activities and traditional boatbuilding throughout the history. Traditional folk songs of Goa frequently mention ‘Vodem ’ which denotes canoe. The recent discovery of stone panels with boat (canoe) motives bears testimony to the fact that the people were aware of boatbuilding since ancient times. The present paper discusses on traditional boats of Goa. The Goa coast provides good evidence of various types of traditional boats such as dugouts, extended dugouts with and without outrigger and plank built boats. Most of these boats are distributed along the coast except small dugouts and plank built boats which are noticed along the rivers. The construction of traditional boats passes through various stages like seasoning of timber, cutting, bending, joining of planks, fastening, sewing, outside treatment, etc. ‘Kharvi’, the fishing community of Goa have been involved in fishing, boatbuilding and maintenance. The ...
Onshore explorations were carried out in Dwarka, Bet Dwarka, Aramda, Kachhigadhi, Okhamadi and Am... more Onshore explorations were carried out in Dwarka, Bet Dwarka, Aramda, Kachhigadhi, Okhamadi and Amrapura area. At Dwarka about 1.6 km2 area was explored between water depths of 1.5 to 20 m off Samudranarayan temple. Diving was carried out at about 40 locations and 29 buoys were marked with the archaeological findings. Similarly underwater explorations were also undertaken in north and south of the present Bet Dwarka jetty at five different locations. Archaeological findings of the exploration in 1998 have been reported in this paper.
period, new ports were established mostly along the coastal regions. The reasons attributed to ab... more period, new ports were established mostly along the coastal regions. The reasons attributed to abandoning inland ports are: (a) bigger ships which had to carry more cargo, (b) larger vessels could withstand the flow of current, (c) advancement in shipbuilding and navigation techniques, and (d) sediment deposition leading to navigational hazards. In the case of Goa, Chandrapura (Chandor) was the oldest inland port. During the later epoch, port activity shifted downstream to Gopakapatana, on the northern bank of the River Zuari. During the 15th century AD, Old Goa, on the bank of the Mandovi River, served as an important trade centre. Most modern port in Goa was built at Mormugao in 1885 in the Zuari estuary. This paper delineates the most likely cause for the decline of Gopakapatana, in particular, as a trade centre, from a geo-historical and oceanographic perspective. A detailed look into the evolution of the morphology of this river bank reveals rapid accretion that led to the form...
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