At which of the following Harappan sites has a dockyard been found suggesting the existence of trade?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 2 i.e. Lothal.
The Harappan site where a dockyard has been found, strongly suggesting the existence of maritime trade, is Lothal.
Lothal is located in the Bhāl region of Gujarat, India, close to the Gulf of Khambhat. Excavations at Lothal have revealed a large, rectangular basin lined with baked bricks, which archaeologists have interpreted as a dockyard. This structure was strategically connected to an ancient course of the Sabarmati River, which provided access to the Arabian Sea.
The discovery of this dockyard, along with other artifacts such as Harappan seals, weights, and imported goods (some possibly from Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf), provides compelling evidence that Lothal functioned as a vital port town. It facilitated extensive trade both within the Indus Valley Civilization and with distant civilizations, highlighting the advanced maritime capabilities of the Harappan people.