Beneath the Blue: Underwater Archaeology in India
Dr. (Cdr.) Arnab Das
Founder and Director, MRC, Pune
Ms Tiya Chatterji
Marine Archaeologist
Key Highlights
- Underwater Archaeology and maritime studies in India are underrated and have the potential to unleash the untapped potential
- Indian maritime history began during the 3rd millennium BCE when inhabitants of the Indus Valley initiated maritime trading contact with Mesopotamia
- The fishermen communities and the other lower castes went about their seafaring business and paid no heed to the Kala Pani hoax
- The decline in the maritime culture was the beginning of an era when India’s economic growth and cultural riches were overtaken by European powers
- In India, Underwater Archaeology is yet to take shape in a comprehensive manner.
Beneath the Blue: Underwater Archaeology in India
Underwater Archaeology and maritime studies in India are underrated and have the potential to unleash untapped potential in terms of heritage studies and the policy formation around them.
Archaeology often reminds us of great ancient civilizations. It is the supporting arm of history and in the absence of written records fills the gaps in the timeline that reveals our past. India has a long timeline of historical events and an abundance of archaeological sites, monumental ruins, historical records and submerged shipwrecks and sites that help reconstruct the lives of people who lived thousands of years ago.
A sub-discipline of Archaeology is Maritime or Marine Archaeology, which deals with the maritime history of any country. It includes underwater research as well as the discovery and study of shipwrecks, sites along the coast, and trade routes that led the once thriving sea trade in India. Proficient seafarers, ancient Indians were known to utilize the potential of a vast coastline of 7500 km.
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Dr. (Cdr.) Arnab Das
Founder and Director, MRC, Pune
Dr Cdr Arnab Das(Director, Maritime Research Center, Pune)
Ms Tiya Chatterji
Marine Archaeologist