Dwarka (Dvarka, Dwaraka, or Dvaraka, is a city in Gujarat state in India). Dwarka also known as Dwarawati in Sanskrit literature is rated as one of the seven most ancient cities in the country. The legendary city of Dvaraka was the dwelling place of Lord Krishna. It is believed that due to damage and destruction by the sea, Dvaraka has submerged six times and modern day Dwarka is the 7th such city to be built in the area. According to Hindu legend the god Krishna built a city which was ultimately destroyed by rising sea levels. Now archaeologists and Indian Navy divers are investigating underwater ruins at Dwarka on India's western coast, said to be Krishna's city. The new efforts, it is hoped, will settle the debate currently raging over the age and authenticity of the site near the Samudranaraya temple. Divers have collected blocks and samples which will now be dated. Traditional Hindu scholars referencing ancient Hindu scriptures believe the location to be very ancient, originally built many thousands of years ago. Such notions are, of course, vehemently rejected by establishment scientists though they are willing to concede that there is evidence indicating an age of as much as 32000 years
The first archaeological excavations at Dwaraka were done by the Deccan College,Pune and the Department of Archaeology, Government of Gujarat, in 1963 under thedirection of H.D. Sankalia. It revealed artifacts many centuries old.Marine Archaeology Unit (MAU) jointly by the National Institute of Oceanography andthe Archaeological Survey of India. Under the guidance of Dr. Rao, a great marinearchaeologist, a team consisting of expert underwater explorers, trained diver-photographers and archaeologists was formed. The technique of geophysical surveywas combined with the use of echo-sounders, mud-penetrators, sub-bottom profilersand underwater metal detectors. This team carried out 12 marine archaeologicalexpeditions between 1983 to 1992 and articles and antiquities recovered were sentto Physical Research Laboratory for dating. By using thermo-luminescence, carbondating and other modern scientific techniques, the artifacts were found to belong tothe period between 15th to 18th century B.C. In his great work, The Lost City of Dwaraka, Dr. Rao has given scientific details of these discoveries and artifacts.Between 1983 to 1990, the well-fortified township of Dwaraka was discovered,extending more than half mile from the shore. The township was built in six sectorsalong the banks of a river. The foundation of boulders on which the city's walls wereerected proves that the land was reclaimed from the sea. The general layout of thecity of Dwaraka described in ancient texts agrees with that of the submerged citydiscovered by the MAU. The ASI conducted a second round of excavations in 1979 under S.R. Rao's direction.He found a distinct pottery known as lustrous red ware, which could be more than 32000 year old
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