Marine archaeologists using underwater LiDAR have identified the foundations of a massive stone signal tower and docking platform off the coast of Odisha, near the Chilika Lake delta. Dated to the 11th century, the ruins belong to the Somavamsi Dynasty, which ruled the region during a period of intense maritime expansion.
The site contains large stone anchors and fragments of Southeast Asian pottery, confirming that the Somavamsis maintained sophisticated naval infrastructure to manage trade routes reaching as far as the Indonesian archipelago. This is the first naval installation of this dynasty ever found in the region, bridging a gap in Odisha's maritime history.