The port-city of Lothal, situated near the Sabarmati and Bhogwa rivers in Gujarat, India, possesses the world's earliest known dockyard connected to a township. Excavations led by S.R Rao from 1954-62 revealed a tide-fed basin measuring approx 220 x 35 meters linked by a 12 meter wide inlet channel to the river allowing ships and boats to enter. Located east of the city, it indicates overseas trade was vital to Harappans. Lothal was likely a chief port for importing raw materials like copper, tin and semi-precious stones and exporting beadwork, ivory and cotton textiles.
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