Editing Lothal (section)

===Architectural development===
[[File:Lothal - bathroom structure.jpg|thumb|The bathroom-toilet structure of the ruler's house in Lothal]]
While the wider debate over the end of [[Indus Valley civilization|Indus civilisation]] continues, archaeological evidence gathered by the ASI appears to point to natural catastrophes, specifically floods and storms as the source of Lothal's downfall. A powerful flood submerged the town and destroyed most of the houses, with the walls and platforms heavily damaged. The acropolis was levelled (2000–1900&nbsp;BCE), and inhabited by common tradesmen and newly built makeshift houses. The worst consequence was the shift in the course of the river, cutting off access to the ships and dock.<ref name="Rao12">{{cite book
| title = Lothal
| publisher = [[Archaeological Survey of India]]
| author = S. R. Rao
| author-link = S. R. Rao
| page = 12
| year = 1985
}}</ref> The people built a new but shallow inlet to connect the flow channel to the dock for sluicing small ships into the basin. Large ships were moored away.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} Houses were rebuilt, yet without removal of flood debris, which made them poor-quality and susceptible to further damage. Public drains were replaced by soakage jars. The citizens did not undertake encroachments, and rebuilt public baths. However, with a poorly organised government, and no outside agency or central government, the public works could not be properly repaired or maintained. The heavily damaged warehouse was never repaired properly, and stocks were stored in wooden canopies, exposed to floods and fire. The economy of the city was transformed.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} Trade volumes reduced greatly, though not catastrophically, and resources were available in lesser quantities.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} Independent businesses caved, allowing a merchant-centric system of factories to develop where hundreds of craftsmen worked for the same supplier and financier.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} The bead factory had ten living rooms and a large workplace courtyard. The coppersmith's workshop had five furnaces and paved sinks to enable multiple artisans to work.<ref name="Rao13">{{cite book
| title = Lothal
| publisher = [[Archaeological Survey of India]]
| author = S. R. Rao
| author-link = S. R. Rao
| page = 13
| year = 1985
}}</ref>

The declining prosperity of the town, paucity of resources and poor administration increased the woes of a people pressured by consistent floods and storms.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} Increased salinity of soil made the land inhospitable to life, including crops.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} This is evidenced in adjacent cities of [[Rangpur, Gujarat|Rangpur]], [[Rojdi]], [[Rupar]] and Harappa in [[Punjab region|Punjab]], [[Mohenjo-daro]] and [[Chanhudaro]] in [[Sindh]]. A massive flood ({{Circa|1900&nbsp;BCE}}) completely destroyed the flagging township in a single stroke. Archaeological analysis shows that the basin and dock were sealed with silt and debris, and the buildings razed to the ground. The flood affected the entire region of Saurashtra, Sindh and south [[Gujarat]], and affected the upper reaches of the [[Indus river|Indus]] and [[Sutlej]], where scores of villages and townships were washed away. The population fled to inner regions.<ref name="Rao134">{{cite book
| title = Lothal
| publisher = [[Archaeological Survey of India]]
| author = S. R. Rao
| author-link = S. R. Rao
| pages = 13–14
| year = 1985
}}</ref>
[[File:Lothal - Gujarat, India (5933608331).jpg|thumb|Archaeological feature]]