Keri: Marine archaeologist Aniruddh Gaur has visited the newly discovered archaeological site on Akhada Island.Recently, while excavating mud for embankment construction, villagers discovered a structure built using laterite and earthen bricks, along with pieces of pottery of various shapes, sizes, and colours. Following a report in the TOI on Jan 22, 2026, Aniruddh Gaur, retired principal technical officer of the National Institute of Oceanography, visited the site with Madhu Gaonkar and Shubham Bhonsle to conduct a field study.Gaur said the preliminary investigation has indicated the archaeological site dates to the pre- Kadamba period, but a detailed study is needed. After excavation in Chandor, we could find such a unique brick structure in Akhada island, he said.He also visited the residence of Sairaj Tari to study the archaeological remains in his possession.Akhada, though included as a hamlet of Santo Estevao of Tiswadi, is a separate island that, along with Cumbarjua, Divar, Vanxim, Chorao, Santo Estevao and Tolto, forms a beautiful constellation of islands in the Mandovi river basin.In the past, it was connected to Old Goa and other places through Tolto island. Barges and other vessels on the Mandovi river used the Dhauji waterway between Tolto and Akhada islands.
