A new archaeological find in the Gulf of Cambay, Gujarat

Abstract

Detailed underwater surveys carried out in the Gulf of Cambay, about 20 km west of Hazira, deploying side scan sonar and sub bottom profiler brought to light, the presence of a submerged palaeochannel traceable to a length of 9 km. Associated with this on either side are basement like features found in a grid pattern at water depths of 20-40 m. Sub-surface sampling carried out with dredge and grab sampler revealed stone artefacts, potsherds, hearth pieces, animal bones and human teeth embedded in fluvial sands and silts. In the upper part of the deposit, a carbonised wooden log was found and dated to around 9500 years BP by 14C method. Marine magnetic survey carried-out does not indicate the presence of any major metallic debrislobjects. This appears to be one of the early records of prehistoric human activity of early Holocene age in the marine environment of India.