Stone anchors along the coast of Chilika Lake: New light on the maritime activities of Orissa, India (original) (raw)
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Current Science, 2021
Numerous stone and iron anchors of various shapes and sizes have been brought to light during the maritime archaeological explorations along the Indian littoral. And anchors are proxies to maritime archaeological studies. The recent maritime archaeological studies along the Manikapatna Coast of Chilika Lake, Odisha, India, discovered one broken Indo-Arabian stone anchor. The archaeological excavation findings suggest that Manikapatna served as a port from the early historical period up to the 18th century CE. Besides the Indo-Arabian stone anchor, composite, kel-lick, one-armed anchor with stone stock and single hole stone anchors were previously documented along the Odisha coast. None of the anchors were accompanied by associated findings, nor from any strata, and therefore, these anchors differ in their period and usage. Nonetheless, some of the stone anchors are still used by the fisherfolk of Odisha in their traditional crafts. The finding of the Indo-Arabian stone anchor of Manikapatna has a great significance in the maritime history of Odisha. This paper discusses the Indo-Arabian stone anchor found at Manikapatna coast, its importance in the maritime history of Odisha and in comparison with other Indo-Arabian types of stone anchors of the Indian subcontinent.
Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology, 2022
Beypore is an important maritime centre in the history of Kerala as well as Indian Ocean. It was active centre of navigation and shipbuilding from the medieval period. At Beypore several types of boats are built even today. The authors identified a stone anchor of Indo-Arabian type near Beypore. The anchor matches with the description of Varthema. This paper discusses the importance of the anchor and the nature of the boat that used the stone anchor.
An Indo-Arabian Type of Stone Anchor from Kannur, Kerala, West coast of
2015
The study of stone anchors can provide information on the size, date and provenance of the ships that carried them, as they were provided by the boat- or ship-builder. In general terms the size of the ship can be correlated with the anchor, but finds of stone anchors from various sites both in India and abroad suggest that ships carried a number of anchors of various sizes. This may have been related to the type of journey, or expected weather conditions. In storms or other unfavourable conditions sailors looked for a sheltered place to anchor. The types of anchors depend on the nature of the seabed. Generally, anchors are found in harbour sites, dockyards, shipwreck sites, and sheltered places along trade routes. Many examples have been found on rocky sea beds and in shallow waters in Indian coastal waters (Gaur et al., 2001; Sundaresh et al., 1999 and Sila Tripati et al., 2003). Over the years exploration and chance finds have yielded 59 triangular anchors, 109 Indo-Arabian and 60...
Iron anchors of Northern Odisha, east coast India: Maritime contacts with European countries
2014
Maritime archaeological studies confirm that stone weight anchors were the earliest device to hold watercraft in place. Different shapes and sizes of stone weight anchors were developed and used during different periods by various cultures (Curryer 1999; Frost 1973; Hadas et al. 2005; Kapit n 1984; Nibbi 1984; Whitehouse 1970). Some varieties of stone anchors have been reported along with lead-filled or lead stock wooden hook anchors from shipwrecks, harbours and trade routes around the world (Green 1971; Wachsmann 1998; Agius 2002). The development from stone weight anchors led to wooden hook anchors (Haldane 1986; Haldane 1990; van Duivenvoorde 2012), lead-stock anchors and iron anchors. Maritime archaeological explorations along the east and west coasts of India have yielded stone anchors (single hole, composite, Indo-Arabian, and ring stone [mushroom]), which were used until the middle of the 20th century. However, no lead-core or all lead stock wooden hook anchors have ever bee...
Various types of stone anchors have been observed during inshore and offshore explorations along the east and west coasts of India. The earliest stone anchors of India have been recorded from the Harappan sites (3rd millennium BC), but their shape and size do not resemble the anchors found during maritime archaeological explorations since 1986. The stone anchors until now recovered from many sites of India can broadly be classified into four types: namely composite, Indo-Arabian, ring stone (mushroom) and single hole. Among all these types of anchors the Indo-Arabian are largest in number and were associated with the Arab traders who were also involved in the horse trade. Moreover, Indo-Arabian stone anchors have been found in a datable context as well reused as lintels, mooring bits, pavements, etc. Composite and single-hole stone anchors are the oldest ones. Composite
A group of 20 stone anchors from the waters of Dwarka, on the Gujarat Coast, India
International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, 2001
A large number of stone anchors were discovered in a water depth of lo--l4 m off Dwarka during the 1998-99 season. The seabed near the anchors consists of a ledge with an average height of 1 m. Several anchors were found trapped between the rocks suggesting an anchorage. Twenty stone anchors of three types were loacted in a submerged channel on the southern side of the site. The grapnel type of anchor is associated with Indo-Arab trade between the 8th and 16th centuries AD. The triangular or composite anchors have a date ranging from 2500 BC to the Modern Period. Therefore, the dating of these anchors at Dwarka is a matter of concern and is discussed.
A Stone Anchor from Beypore, Kerala, West Coast of India
Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology , 2021
Beypore is an important maritime centre in the history of Kerala as well as Indian Ocean. It was active centre of navigation and shipbuilding from the medieval period. At Beypore several types of boats are built even today. The authors identified a stone anchor of Indo-Arabian type near Beypore. The anchor matches with the description of Varthema. This paper discusses the importance of the anchor and the nature of the boat that used the stone anchor.
'Saurashtra stone anchors'(Ring-stones) from Dwarka and Somnath, west coast of India
2002
Abstract: Last two decades of marine archaeological research along the Indian coast has brought to light a large number of stone anchors of different types and sizes, indicating that the Indian coast has witnessed brisk maritime activities in the past. Gujarat provides evidence of the earliest such activity in the form of dockyard and stone anchors at Lothal and a jetty and stone anchors from Kuntasi.