An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s9.25

v1.c9.s9.25

The layout of the settlement at LOTHAL somewhat differs from both Mohenjo-daro and KALIBANGAN. Thus, whereas at the latter two places the so-called ‘Citadel’ was clearly separated from the ‘Lower Town’, at Lothal the two were integrated to fall within a common fortification wall. At the same time the ‘Citadel’ maintained its distinctive feature of having been built on a platform. While most of what had originally stood on the platform has been ravaged by time and man, whatever remains is still very important, particularly for an interpretation of this complex. Besides some remains of walls the most conspicuous structures comprised a series of over a dozen bath-rooms, whose drains discharged into a large common drain, a large well and another set of drains cascading down to a cess-pit at the foot of the platform. None of the structures was of a kind as would entitle itself to be regarded as the residence of a king, but the presence of a series of bath-rooms does remind one of the Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro and of the bathing platforms at KALIBANGAN, whose religious association seems to be well indicated. It is thus likely that the so-called acropolis at Lothal may well have been a religious complex.