The Underwater Archaeology Wing (UAW) of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) plans to explore underwater archaeological sites along the strategic locations of the Gujarat coast.
A high-level team of UAW based in Delhi in association with the officials of Indian Navy has chalked out a plan to explore ancient sites belonging to the Harappan civilisation. Sources in the ASI said that most probably exploration task of the joint efforts of UAW and Indian Navy would kick-start from the year 2015.
According to a senior ASI official, it was documented that in the ancient time, many ports existed along the Gujarat coast and regular trade used to take place with various other countries. looking to this fact, a proposal for exploring the Gujarat coast got the green signal.
“The task of exploration will be taken up by the UAW team comprising assistant archaeologist, deputy superintending archaeologist and photographers from National Institute of Oceanography apart from officials of Indian Navy. Some members of the team would be trained for scuba diving too.
Beginning of underwater archaeology in India can be traced back to 1981. Off-shore explorations in the country have generated a lot of popularity to this discipline. Establishment of the UAW in 2001 marked a major step towards the development of the subject. The UAW has in its credit—exploration of Elephanta island, Mahabalipuram in Bay of Bengal, Arikamedu, Pondicherry and excavation of a shipwreck named ‘Princess Royal’ in lakshadweep.
Protection of underwater cultural heritage and regulation of underwater activities aimed towards the cultural heritage is one of the main concerns of the UAW. Adoption of “Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage” by UNESCO in 2001 displays the global concern about the protection and management of underwater cultural heritage.