Dating Potsherds from Ancient Dwaraka

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By Srinivasan Kalyanaraman <kalyan97@g...> wrote:

Thanks to Arun for the URL.

 

In Sangam literature, Patir-r-uppattu, there is a reference to Cera

kings claiming their lineage of 42 generations from Dwaraka (Tuvarai).

Mausala Parva of Mahabharata refers to the submergence of Dwaraka. If

the Cera people are internal migrants from Dwaraka and if a generation

is assumed to be an average of 25 years and if Sangam texts are dated

to circa 1200 BCE, an additional 1050 years (i.e. 25X42) would take

the submergence of Dwaraka to 2250 BCE, date consistent with the

Sarasvati civilization sites and also consistent with the find of a

s'ankha seal bearing typical sarasvati heiroglyphs (three-headed

animals with heads of bull, one-horned heifer and antelope looking

backwards).

 

So, some hypotheses which can be reframed for testing through

historical studies:

 

Sarasvati people moved to the present-day Kerala, hugging the

coastline of Sindhusa_gara after the desiccation of R. Sarasvati and

submergence of Dwaraka.

 

Many bharatiya are sarasvats who were caught in the recurrent natural

calamities caused by plate tectonics, resultant river migrations and

raise in sea levels submerging the coastline regions of Bharat. So, we

adore Krishna in Guruvayur and also in Puri, as Jagannath (as marine,

riverine civilization people moved along the river Godavari

eastwards). How else to explain the presence of the largest Vis.n.u

mandiram in the world in Angkor Wat (Nagara Va_t.ika_), Kampuchea

(Cambodia) but as a result of Bali ya_tra_ by these marine people

called Bharatiya? We have to donate a ratha to Angkor Wat for starting

a ratha ya_tra_ there like the juggernaut in Orissa to cherish the

heritage of Krishna.

 

Krishna, like Sarasvati, was no legend. He, like Sarasvati, was a

living reality.

 

Kalyanaraman

 

Excerpts from URL reference:

 

Earlier studies on the onshore and inter-tidal zone explorations in

Bet Dwarka island had revealed the presence of a large number of

potsherds and other antiquities that correspond to the protohistoric

(2000â€"1500 BC), historical (3rd century BC to 5th century AD) and

medieval (8th century to 15th century AD) periods. Until the present

time there has been a lack of absolute chronology. This study

therefore attempts to address this deficiency. Accordingly, nine

potsherds from four different sites of Bet Dwarka island were dated by

thermolumine scence (TL). The ages obtained from site BDK-VI vary

between 3870 and 2220 years BP; those from BDK-I vary between 3160 and

830 years BP; those from BDK-II vary between 1780 and 960 years BP,

and those from Khuda Dost Dargah vary between 1240 and 880 years BP.

When analysed on the basis of their locations, they are in conformity

with the expected period. Interestingly, at site BDKVI and BDK-I a few

potsherds, believed to be of protohistoric period, are apparently

considerably more recent (2000 years BP), which may suggest the

continuation of protohistoric habitation up to historical period at

the same site. These TL ages assist in establishing a cultural

sequence for Bet Dwarka island...

 

Conclusions

 

To some extent, the TL ages of the pottery from Bet Dwarka island here

endorse the hypothesis on the cultural sequence of Bet Dwarka island

established earlier. Accordingly, habitation record at the island

begins from protohistoric period (4000 years BP) to medieval period

(500 years BP). When seen in conjunction with other finds from the

island, i.e. seal inscriptions, large number of anchors, shell working

sites, etc., we can suggest that the island of Bet Dwarka was an

important active port since ancient times and remained in the

limelight for a long time. Bet Dwarka has provided a continuous

habitation, which suggests that this island played a vital role in

maritime activities since Harappan times. The apparent continuation of

the protohistoric pottery into the historical period needs careful

study. When confirmed, this will help in unravelling the problem of

Okhamandal archaeology, and these present TL ages will provide the

initial evidence for a solution to this conundrum.

 

http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/jun102002/1351.pdf Cultural sequence of

Bet Dwarka island based on thermoluminescence dating K. H. Vora*, A.

S. Gaur*,†, David Price‡ and Sundaresh* *National Institute of

Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403 004, India ‡Thermoluminescence

Dating Laboratory, School of Geosciences, University of Wollongong,

Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia

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