Ancient copper plates reveal 300 years of lost Indian maritime history

Two historic copper plates have been unearthed during excavations at Morabander on Gharapuri (Elephanta) Island. The discovery was made by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Mumbai Circle, during the 2025-26 season. These plates shed light on nearly 300 years of western Indian history and early maritime trade. The first copper plate is linked to the Chalukyas of Navasarika and dates back to the seventh or eighth century. It bears a royal seal with the inscription 'Shri Jayashrayah', likely from the reign of King Jayashraya Mangalarasa. The second plate belongs to Maharaja Indrasena of the Traikutaka dynasty, which ruled between the fourth and sixth centuries AD.

Both plates were found inside storage jars near a warehouse-like structure. Gharapuri was once a key maritime trading hub, connecting western India to global commercial networks. Earlier excavations at Morabander had already revealed signs of international trade, including Roman amphora fragments and imported pottery. The discovery of these copper plates deepens the understanding of early coastal commerce and regional political history. The ASI’s findings provide tangible evidence of the island’s role in ancient trade and governance. These artefacts offer new insights into the dynasties that shaped western India’s past.