Maritime Archaeology and Shipwrecks off Goa

Contents: Preface.  1. Maritime History of Goa. 2. Coastal Geology and Geomorphology of Goa and Equipment and Methodology. 3. Exploration and Excavation of Shipwreck off Sunchi Reef. 4. Exploration of Basel Mission Company Shipwreck off St George’s Reef. 5. Steam Engine Shipwreck Exploration off Amee Shoals. 6. Shipwreck Exploration off Sail Rock and Galgibaga. 7. Stone and Iron Anchors from Goa Waters. 8. Explorations off Aguada Bay; Baga; Grande Island; Old Goa; Gopakapatana. 9. Studies on the Elephant Tusks and Hippopotamus Teeth collected from Sunchi Reef Shipwreck.
10. Use of Timber in Shipbuilding Industry: Identification and Analysis  of Timber from Shipwrecks off Goa Coast. 11. Analysis of Timber and Coating Material on an Iron Anchor Recovered off Aguada Bay, Goa. Bibliography. Index.

Among the ports and harbours of the west coast of India, Goa occupies a strategic
position whilst relatively good harbours have made it a centre of maritime trade
for much of its history. Goa was one of the most important entrepots on the
west coast of India. Maritime interaction of Goa with the rest of the India
as well other parts of the world is well documented from the early centuries
of the Christian era. Over the centuries, ports of Goa declined owing to siltation,
foreign attack, then new ports were established and maritime trade continued.
The location of Goa suited the Portuguese from every angle so they fought against
Adil Shah and conquered and ruled Goa up to 1961. During these periods several
ships have been wrecked in Goa waters either due to naval warfare, unskilled
navigation or other reasons.

In order to reconstruct the maritime history of Goa both onshore and offshore
explorations have been carried out and the present work is the outcome of the
exploration. Moreover, it was for this reason that the first shipwreck exploration
in Indian waters was carried out in Goa waters. In course of underwater exploration,
shipwrecks have been found off Sunchi Reef, St Georges’ Reef and Amee
Shoals, Sail Rock and Grande Island. The Sunchi Reef shipwreck is the oldest
wreck so far surveyed in Indian waters and the first Portuguese wreck until
now investigated. Coastal Geomorphology and Seabed topography of Goa has been
recorded while undertaking shipwreck studies. In addition to shipwrecks, stone
anchors have been documented in Goa waters and Chandor, Gopakapatana and Old
Goa, the port sites of Goa have been explored. In separate chapters, a comprehensive report of analysis of elephant tusks and hippopotamus teeth recovered from Sunchi Reef shipwreck and the anatomical analysis of wooden stocks of iron anchors retrieved from Aguada bay have been included.

The book gives a comprehensive account of the rich maritime heritage of Goa
and illustrated with both inland and underwater photographs, drawings and tables, and undoubtedly it will fascinate, enhance the knowledge of scholars and researchers and provide them with an insight into the maritime heritage of Goa.