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Synopsis The Indus Valley has been known to be the centre of one of the earliest civilization of the world, ever since the discovery of Harappa and Mohenjodaro in 1921-22. Hardly any site of the Indus (Harappa) civilization was discovered within the present day Indian territory at the time of independence and partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947. The Archaeological Survey of India took up the task of exploring regions, east of Indus Valley for finding out Harappan sites. The renewed excavation resulted in the discovery of at least forty Harappan sites in Saurashtra (in Gujarat), the most important among them being Lothal. The word 'Lothal' in Gujarati formed by combining two words "Loth' and 'Thal' (Sthal) means mound of dead. Interestingly, the word 'Mohenjodaro; in Sindhi carries the same meaning. Lothal lies between two ranns or salt waters, namely, Rann of Cambay on the south and the little Rann of Kutch on the north, with the Nal Lake in the centre. The ancient mound, in a flat featureless alluvial lowland was situated on the northern margin of the boundary line separating Saragwala village from Laxmipura and was coming under the revenue jurisdiction of Saragwala, administered by the Collectorate of Ahmedabad.