Author: Josy Joseph
Publication: DNA India
Date: August 18, 2007
URL: http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1116241
Marine archaeologists may finally be able
to put an end to speculations regarding Lord Krishna's submerged city of Dwarka
off Gujarat coast, and provide a scientific history of the fascinating underwater
landscape.
A team of marine archaeologists and navy divers
have collected credible samples from the submerged regions of the mythological
town where Lord Krishna is believed to have settled down after leaving Mathura.
Without scientifically qualifying the purported
mythology behind the Dwarka story, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and
Indian Navy (IN), which collaborated on the survey and sample collection,
said: "For the first time, we have lifted samples from the structures
under water."
They would be sent to several laboratories
in India and abroad for carbon dating to assess their age. The tests would
put to rest all speculations, officials said.
Dr Alok Tripathi, superintendent archaeologist
of the underwater archaeology division of the ASI said the underwater structures
have been known for the past 40 years. "So we don't claim discovery",
but the samples taken would provide path-breaking data and insight into the
unknown past of the city.
"The area off Samudranarayana temple
at Dwarka is known to contain submerged structures which have been widely
reported and interpreted by renowned scholars.
Keeping the need of scientific study of submerged
remains and material evidence to interpret and date these structures, ASI
and IN carried out a joint excavation at Dwarka," a navy statement said.
A team of naval divers and ASI personnel explored
a 200*200 metres area in the initial phase and then zeroed in on a 50*50 metre
area for cleaning up and sample collection.
The remains of the so-called Dwarka city,
off Samudranarayana temple in Gujarat, are scattered in about an area of 2
kilometres by 4 kilometres.
Findings of the survey would be presented
at a seminar in Delhi soon.
