Que : Excavations at Lothal, Kuntasi and Rangpur have given a new dimension to the understanding that the people of the Indus Valley were skilled traders through ports. Discuss.

 The excavations at Rangpur and Lothal have shed light on the information of all three phases of the Indus Valley Civilization. Certain evidence has been found that Kuntasi and Lothal were port cities of the then civilization, while Rangpur was an important center of its transportation. The following can be deduced from the remains of the three cities:

1. Lothal:

• The oldest dockyard in the world has been found at Lothal near Sargwala in Ahmedabad. Which bears witness to the fact that the trade of the then Indus Valley Civilization was done through import-export.
•  Seals in the shape of a Sumerian ship have been found from Lothal, which indicate trade with Sumerian countries.
•  Apart from this, trade with other ports of the Indus Valley Civilization, Sutkagendor, Makran Tatt, was also done through this port.
•  Moreover, the remains of a bead factory have been found from Lothal, which indicates the presence of industry and trade at that time.

2. Rangpur:

• Rangpur is located in present-day Surendranagar. According to S.R.Rao’s article, Rangpur was connected to Lothal by river and was an area for the production of raw materials. It is speculated that the development of the Lothal – Rangpur – Kuntasi corridor was done at that time for internal goods transport.
•  Large-scale evidence of grain has been found from Rangpur. Also, stone beads, ivory remains have been found, which suggests that Rangpur developed as a manufacturing area.

3. Kuntasi:

•  Kuntasi is located in present-day Morbi district. Kuntasi was a small port city of the Indus Valley Civilization. A shipwreck has been found there.
•  During the North Harappan period, the Kuntasi to Rangpur and Rangpur to Lothal corridors were developed for the transport of goods and goods for outsiders.
•  There is evidence that the flood in 1500 BC caused maximum disruption in the trade, residence and communication of Rangpur, Lothal and Kuntasi.

In addition, marine fossils have been found from Lothal, which provide information about the proximity of the sea.

•  The conch stones exported from Saurashtra and Kathiawar were exported from the Lothal port via Kuntasi and Rangpur.

                      Thus, the excavations of Rangpur, Lothal and Kuntasi have provided information about the Eastern and Northern Harappan periods, as well as revealed the system of trade, import-export during that time. They provide information about the developed shipping at that time. They also give an overview of the skilled traders of the people of Gujarat during that time.