NEW DELHI: Marine archaeologists may finally be able to put an end to speculations regarding Lord Krishna'ssubmerged 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'tclaim 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 x 200 metres area in the initial phase and then zeroed in on a 50 x 50 metres 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 two kilometres by four kilometres.
Findings of the survey would be presented at a seminar in Delhi soon.
(Courtesy: www.dnaindia.com)
