Scientists Probe Sea‑Level Shifts and Trade Networks of Elephanta Island
IIT Kharagpur, the Mumbai Port Authority and the Archaeological Survey of India have launched an ambitious joint study to explore how historic sea‑level variations and climate change impacted maritime commerce and settlement around Elephanta Island and the adjacent western coastline.
The interdisciplinary project will blend advanced earth‑science methods with archaeological data to track water‑level trends, climate parameters and seafaring activity from the early historic period through the medieval age.
The Mumbai Port Authority has earmarked a contribution of one crore rupees to finance the research.
Researchers aim to uncover fresh insights into the connections between environmental dynamics, coastal geomorphology, ancient habitations and historic maritime routes.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, sea levels may climb 0.4‑0.8 m globally by 2100, with the western Indian coast potentially facing a rise of up to one metre. Such an increase could inundate low‑lying zones of Mumbai and threaten the area surrounding Elephanta Island, which houses the world‑renowned 1,500‑year‑old rock‑cut Shiva caves listed as a UNESCO heritage site.
The study will also model prospective sea‑level rises to evaluate future risks for the heritage locale.
Latest excavations overseen by ASI’s Abhijit Ambedkar uncovered a rectangular freshwater reservoir spanning roughly 165 sq m and eight metres deep, connected to a stepped access way, indicating a sophisticated water‑storage system operative around 1,500 years ago.
Additional finds include sizable storage jars, fragments of Indo‑Mediterranean amphorae, turquoise‑coloured pottery and Mesopotamian‑type torpedo jars, all pointing to vibrant long‑distance trade. The presence of submerged dock foundations, tidal‑zone habitation remnants and harbour‑related markings confirms that Elephanta functioned as an integral node in a broader maritime network, not merely a pilgrimage spot.
Professor Melanie Bera, the project’s chief investigator from IIT Kharagpur, explained that modern geophysical equipment will be employed to extract core samples, conduct sedimentology, radiocarbon dating and analyse oxygen, carbon and nitrogen isotopes, thereby reconstructing ancient weather patterns and sea‑level positions.
Co‑investigator Professor V. Ravikant added that strontium and neodymium isotope analysis of pottery shards will help identify the source regions of the clays used in their production.
Ajay Yadav, an expert on ancient trade and a research scientist with international experience, remarked that Elephanta opens a new, systematic avenue for scientific scrutiny of India’s early maritime trade.
The collaboration seeks to integrate climate science with archaeological investigation to deliver a nuanced picture of how rising seas have altered human history along India’s western seaboard.