Archaeological Studies at Dholavira Using GPR

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dholavira, a significant Harappan civilization city in Gujarat, India, have revealed extensive subsurface water structures. These features, with dimensions larger than typical residential structures, suggest the presence of advanced hydraulic systems that likely suffered partial collapse due to flooding from the nearby Manhar River. The study, conducted over 12,276 m² using a 200 MHz antenna at a grid spacing of 2-3 m during the dry season, mapped soil strata up to 3.5-4 m depth and identified orthogonal linear features adjacent to rubble-filled areas, indicating flood damage patterns. This discovery sheds new light on the sophistication of Harappan urban planning and water management systems.

Agrawal, S., Majumder, M., Bisht, R. S., & Prashant, A. (2018). Archaeological Studies at Dholavira Using GPR. Current Science, 114(04), 879. https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v114/i04/879-887