A team of scientists from Goa based ‘National Institute of Oceanography’ (NIO) on 15 July 2015 discovered the remnants of a historically important port on Goa’s Zuari river. It is expected to be amongst the oldest signs of human trade on the central west coast.
The Port is supposed to be existed between 1000 to 3500 AD which makes it India’s oldest ports. The researchers are also of the opinion that they may discover a dockyard similar in structure to Lothal dockyard in Gujarat which was discovered by Archeological Survey of India (ASI) in 1954.
Findings of the discovery
- The exploration work on the site has been completed and scientists have found the steps going in the water. It is imminent that existence of such a big wall parallel to river indicates that it is remnant of a port.
- According to the scientists, there is a existence of cross walls which stands inundated in the water.
- These observations concluded that this port might be connected to Old Goa, ancient capital of Goa, through Rajvidhi (Road built and used for the King).
- The NIO’s scientists have been working on 1.2KM long wall along the Zuari River which is just few kms away from the capital city of Goa. This area was earlier known as Gopakapattinam.
- The scientists will now conduct Radiocarbon and Thermo-luminance dating to find out the correct age of this ancient port. Also to unearth other buried structures, the scientists will do ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey in sandy beach area and seismic surveys in offshore area.