A team of five archaeologists from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), led by Prof. Alok Tripathi, Additional Director-General (Archaeology) has commenced groundbreaking underwater explorations off the coast of Dwarka. The team, which also includes H.K. Nayak, Director (Excavations and Explorations), Dr. Aparajita Sharma, Assistant Superintending Archaeologist, Ms. Poonam Vind, and Rajkumari Barbina, has selected an area near the Gomati Creek for initial investigations.

For the first time in ASI, this team comprising a significant number of women archaeologists and the most numbers of archaeologists actively participating in underwater investigations.

This underwater exploration is part of the renewed Underwater Archaeology Wing (UAW) of ASI, which has recently been revived to undertake offshore surveys and investigations in Dwarka and Bet Dwarka (Gujarat). The UAW has been at the forefront of underwater archaeological research since the 1980s. Since 2001, the wing is conducting explorations at sites such as Bangaram Island (Lakshadweep), Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu), Dwarka (Gujarat), Loktak Lake (Manipur), and Elephanta Island (Maharashtra). Archaeologists of UAW have also collaborated with the Indian Navy (IN) and other government organizations for the study and protection of underwater cultural heritage.

Earlier the Underwater Archaeology Wing had carried-out offshore and onshore excavations at Dwarka from 2005 to 2007. The coastal areas were examined during low tide where sculptures and stone anchors were discovered. Based on those explorations, underwater excavations were carried out.

The current underwater investigations mark a significant step in ASI’s mission to safeguard India’s rich underwater cultural heritage.

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Sunil Kumar Tiwari

pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

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