ASI must conduct marine archaeology projects to detect shipwrecks off Odisha coast : Dhir
Bhubaneswar, Aug 24: The coast off Odisha is full of many shipwrecks and ASI should conduct a few marine archaeology projects to detect these wrecks, INTACH Bhubaneswar chapter convenor Anil Dhir said.
Speaking at a book release function at the Regional Science Centre here on Wednesday,,Dhir said while most of the history of Odisha’s ancient maritime activity is based on legend and lore, there is substantial evidential proof of a rich maritime heritage.
Besides the archaeological evidence, the temple walls have innumerable images of boats and shipbuilding.
He further said there are many ancient palm leaf manuscripts which have details of ship and boat building. The coast off Odisha is full of many shipwrecks, many of which have been marked on British Admiralty Maps.
Dhir said there were many reported instances of ships sinking in harbours when cyclones struck.
The book titled “Glorious Water Transport Heritage of Kalinga: Ancient to recent Times written by Dr.Suresh Mishra has reflected a detailed compendium on the rich maritime heritage of Kalinga.
It covers both the oceanic and riverine transportation systems and has details about the ports that were there in the river estuaries.
Aspects of boat and ship building too have been detailed in the book which is conceived on the riverine, coastal and ocean trading of the Kalingan Sahdabas.
Dr. Mishra who holds a PhD Degree on Naval Architecture from the University Of Newcastle Upon Tyne, U.K has served as the first Director of the Indian Maritime University at Visakhapatnam and was Chairman of the Naval Research Board from 2016 till 2021.
Senior Archaeologist of the Odishan Institute of Maritime and South East Asian Studies Dr. Sunil Patnaik, said that there is sufficient proof of ancient maritime activity in the Kalingan waters and that the existence of a strong Navy too cannot be denied.
He said that ports of Kalinga existed as early as 500 B.C.
Former Vice Chancellor of the BPUT Prof. Omkar Nath Mohanty highlighted the transfer of knowledge and skills, especially of metallurgy, to SouthEast Asia by the ancient Kalingan mariners.
