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Ancient Indians (Harappan settlement) were aware of tsunami/storm protection measures: A new interpretation of thick walls at Dholavira, Gujarat, India

DRS at CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography

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Title Ancient Indians (Harappan settlement) were aware of tsunami/storm protection measures: A new interpretation of thick walls at Dholavira, Gujarat, India
 
Creator Nigam, R.
Dubey, R.
Saraswat, R.
Sundaresh
Gaur, A.S.
Loveson, V.J.
 
Subject Marine archaeology
Oceanographic support services
Meteorology and climatology
 
Description Dholavira, an archaeological site of Harappan times in Gujarat, had ‘city fortification’ as a unique aspect of its town planning. The thickness of the main city wall is alarming3, 9, 10. The probable cause of such massive outer protective wall is yet unaddressed. On the basis of (a) location of Dholavira, (b) lack of conspicuous proto-historic military evidences, and (c) the climatic scenario during mid-Holocene, we suggest that the walls must have acted as a defense against sea storms/tsunami waves. Dholavirans were probably aware of the magnitude of destruction caused by tsunami waves/storms, henceforth, had come up with protective measure as defense wall. Similar sea walls/ breakers/dikes built as protection against sea storms/tsunami can be found in several coastal cities, even today.
 
Date 2017-03-03T08:39:23Z
2017-03-03T08:39:23Z
2016
 
Type Journal Article
 
Identifier Current Science, vol.111(12); 2016; 2040-2043
http://drs.nio.org/drs/handle/2264/5108
 
Language en
 
Rights Copyright [2016]. All efforts have been made to respect the copyright to the best of our knowledge. Inadvertent omissions, if brought to our notice, stand for correction and withdrawal of document from this repository.
 
Publisher Current Science Association