Editing Lothal (section)

==Acropolis and lower town==
[[File:Lothal - lower town.jpg|thumb|The lower town]]
The town center of Acropolis was the political and commercial heart of Lothal measuring at {{convert|127.4|m|ft|abbr=off}} east-to-west by {{convert|60.9|m|ft|abbr=off}} north-to-south. There were three streets and two lanes running east–west, and two streets running north–south. The four sides of the rectangular platform on which houses were built are formed by mud-brick structures of {{convert|12.2|–|24.4|m|ft}} thickness and {{convert|2.1|–|3.6|m|ft}} high.<ref name="Rao191">{{cite book
| title = Lothal
| publisher = [[Archaeological Survey of India]]
| author = S. R. Rao
| author-link = S. R. Rao
| pages = 19–21
| year = 1985
}}</ref> The identified bathing platforms are located in the acropolis, and part of mostly two-roomed houses with open courtyards. The bricks used for paving the bathing platforms were polished to prevent seepage. The pavements were lime-plastered, and edges were [[wainscoted]] (wooden panels) by thin walls. The ruler's residence was {{convert|43.92|m2|ft2|abbr=off}} and hosted a {{convert|1.8|m2|ft2|abbr=off}} bathing platform with contiguous squat [[latrine]] which was also connected to an outside drain that discharged into the dock. The lower town marketplace was on the main north–south street {{convert|6|–|8|m|ft}} wide. Built in straight rows on either side of the street are residences and workshops, although brick-built drains and early period housing has now disappeared. The street maintained a uniform width and did not undergo encroachment during the reconstructive periods after deluges. There are multiple two-roomed shops and workplaces of coppersmiths and blacksmiths.<ref name="Rao234">{{cite book
| title = Lothal
| publisher = [[Archaeological Survey of India]]
| author = S. R. Rao
| author-link = S. R. Rao
| pages = 23–24
| year = 1985
}}</ref>

The bead factory, which performs a very important economic function, possesses a central courtyard and eleven rooms, a store, and a guardhouse. There is a cinder dump as well as a double-chambered circular kiln with stoke-holes for fuel supply. Four [[flue]]s are connected with each other, the upper chamber and the stokehold. The mud plaster of the floors and walls are vitrified owing to intense heat during work. The remnants of raw materials such as reed, cow dung, sawdust, and agate are found, giving archaeologists hints of how the kiln was operated.<ref name="Rao23">{{cite book
| title = Lothal
| publisher = [[Archaeological Survey of India]]
| author = S. R. Rao
| author-link = S. R. Rao
| page = 23
| year = 1985
}}</ref> A large mud-brick building faces the factory, and its significance is noted by its plan. Four large rooms and a hall, with an overall measurement of {{convert|17.1|x|12.8|m|ft}}. The hall has a large doorway and a raised floor in the southern corner of the building.