Format: Paper presentations with discussion
Convenors:
V. Selvakumar
Department of Maritime History and Marine Archaeology, Tamil University, Thanjavur 613010 India.
selvakumarodi@gmail.com
Wijerathne Bohingamuwa
Department of History and Archaeology, University of Ruhuna, Matara 81000, Sri Lanka
bwijerathne@hist.ruh.ac.lk
Kaushik Gangopadyayay
Department of Archaeology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India.
k.gongo@gmail.com
Bobby Orillaneda
Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage Division, National Museum of the Philippines, P. Burgos Drive, Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines.
bcorillaneda.nmp@gmail.com
The Indian Ocean connects a multitude of cultures, communities, and landscapes across the world. This session proposes to focus on the diverse landscapes and oceanscapes, transcending the regional affiliations of the Indian Ocean region, and to deliberate on the recent perspectives of archaeologists, ethnographers, historians, earth scientists, and climatologists on Indian Ocean cultures and interactions. The Indian Ocean is not a singular unified geo-cultural entity, but is comprised of many diverse cultural regions, cultural and ideological landscapes, and communities, from Africa to Asia through Europe, connecting the hinterlands, seas, rivers, coasts and deltas. The primary division between the Western and Eastern Indian Ocean regions is created by the South Asian landmass, and the monsoon wind patterns power the key interaction spheres. The ‘Oceanic connect’ among the regions of South Asia, Southeast Asia, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula has been historically strong. There is, however, a great deal of scope to delve deeper into the ‘lives’, cultures and belief systems of the people living around the Indian Ocean. This session proposes to revisit the following topics, considering recent advances in archaeology and related disciplines.
a) Human mobility from the earliest times to the present
b) Indigenous knowledge systems related to navigation
c) Transfer of technology and migration of traders, craftsmen, and artisans
d) Regional networks across the western and eastern Indian Ocean
e) Human lives and cultures on the fringes as gleaned from archaeological, historical, and ethnographic investigations
f) Works on communities, such as fisher folk, conch shell makers or even pirates
g) Climatic histories, and sustainability of human life
Papers:
Harappans—the Pioneer Master Sea Farers
Prof. Vasant Shinde, CSIR Bhatnagar Fellow, CCMB, Hyderabad
The Harappan Civilisation flourished in the Indian Subcontinent from 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE. Some of the characteristic features of this civilisation include well-organised town planning, a sophisticated sewage system, the introduction of weights, measures and seals, advancements in the basic technology used to manufacture various crafts, like pottery, beads of varied materials, and a variety of objects of diverse materials like semi-precious stones, ivory, shell, copper, silver, gold, etc.
The Harappan urbanisation evolved from a long process of development. One of the major reasons for the development of urbanisation is trade—both hinterland and international. Through the hinterland trade they were able to acquire suitable raw materials and circulate finished goods. The international trade extended to their contemporaries in the Arabian Gulf, Persian Gulf, Mesopotamia and even Egypt. In order to facilitate maritime trade with these international regions, the Harappans established ports on the Makran and Saurashtra coasts. Among these, the riverine port of Lothal on the modern Saurashtra coasts in the state of Gujarat deserves special mention. Possibly from here the Harappans sailed directly to the port of Ras-al-Jinz in Oman, carrying luxury goods. Possibly the merchants from Persia, Mesopotamia and Egypt travelled to Ras-al-Jinz to collect and further transport Harappan goods to their respective countries. The beneficial international trade enabled the Harappans to generate surplus wealth, which could be used for developing urbanisation in the middle of the third millennium BCE.
The Harappans developed two distinct types of boat—a wooden flat-bottom plank and the reed boat. The site of Lothal has yielded a unique rectangular baked-brick structure measuring 215 m in length, 37 m in breadth and 4 m in depth. This has been identified as a dockyard, which could have been used for building ships and boats. This is the most unique evidence in the world of the middle of the third millennium BCE. This presentation will highlight the importance and nature of the maritime trade and the development of significant boat-building technology by the Harappans.
‘Stapled’ Boatbuilding Tradition of Bengal: A Case Study on Chhot
Dr Swarup Bhattacharyya, University of Exeter, Devon, UK
Assoc. Prof John P. Cooper, Institute of Arab & Islamic Studies, University of Exeter, Devon, UK
Dr Zeeshan A Shaikh, maritime archaeologist and independent scholar, UK
We have documented a boat building procedure which is unique in Bengal (India). The typological name of the boat is chhot: a smooth skinned, rabbeted, and stapled boat of Bengal with a ‘v’ shaped cross section and prominent keel. The project took place in Dehimondalghat of Haora district on the bank of the river Rupnarayan. Digitisation of the entire process of boat building was undertaken on this EMKP, UK project. Panchanan Mandal and his four sons created the full scale boat of 35 feet in length and 9.5 feet in cross beam. Documentation of chhot is important as the boat type is no longer used in the river and the skill of chhot boat building will disappear in the near future. It is the first project on digitisation of a boat in India.
Sands of Time: New Results from the Excavations at the Site of Bahiri, Coastal Bengal, India
Kaushik Gangopadhyay, Dept of Archaeology, University of Calcutta, West Bengal, India
Chandrima Shaha, Dept of Archaeology, University of Calcutta, West Bengal, India
Hrishita Ghosh, Dept of Anthropology, Stanford University, USA
Swayamdipta Munshi, Independent Researcher, affiliated with Dept of Archaeology, University of Calcutta, India
Pravat Roy, Dept of Archaeology, University of Calcutta, West Bengal, India
Nabanita Naskar, Dept of Microbiology, Sammilani Mahavidyalaya, West Bengal, India
This paper will discuss sites in coastal Bengal and their role in sustaining networks in the Indian Ocean region. In this context, recent excavations at the site of Bahiri have raised new questions on the nature of interactions in the eastern Indian Ocean region, more specifically, the Bay of Bengal. One of the new additions to the ongoing questions has been in the area of the spatial and temporal scale of interactions. On the spatial scale, the role of networks is yet to be completely understood because historical data, derived largely from texts, provide limited knowledge regarding networks involving maritime ports not earlier than the latter part of the 1st millennium CE. The nature and scale of interactions in the period earlier than the first millennium CE remains sketchy. Secondly, the temporal framework refers to ‘periods’, such as the ‘early historic period’, without co-relation with absolute dates. Lastly, the complexities involved in the interactions are not brought out through historical studies and archaeological investigations conducted so far.
The recent excavations at the site of Bahiri have presently addressed these specific problems. Surface survey, followed by examinations of contexts through controlled excavation trenches, provides new evidence of settlements which may have acted as ‘ports’ in the littoral landscape of West Bengal, beginning in the third century BCE. Through this study a perspective on interactions in the wider Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific region can be proposed.
Pirates of the Arabian Sea: A ‘Longue Durée’ Study from 1st Century CE to 13th Century CE
Suchandra Ghosh, Professor, Dept of History, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telengana, India
It is well-known that the Arabian Sea, with its seasonal reversal in wind system, is highly favourable to mercantile ventures, with trading vessels moving along the coast or across the sea. Consequently, the western seaboard of India was dotted with numerous ports which facilitated mobility across the sea. However, a few of the ports experienced rampant piracy, which sometimes assumed menacing proportions. There are some littoral pockets which can be marked as perennial centres of piracy. The Konkan coast was one such pocket, which had a strong association with piracy in Greco-Roman literature. In fact, Ptolemy identifies this region as a kind of “Pirate Coast” (“andrôn peiratôn”). The Malabar coast too subsequently became a centre for piracy. Piracy can also be an expression of belligerency by a small local power of a particular coast in order to gain economic and political advantages. Scouring through both textual and archaeological sources, this presentation aims at painting a “longue durée” picture of piracy in the western seaboard of India, studying the complex negotiations between the merchants, pirates and political powers. The other question to interrogate would be their resilience as a community, which helped sustain them throughout centuries.
What was Sri Lanka Looking for in the West? The Island’s Interactions with the Western Indian Ocean Region Before the 13th Century AD
Wijerathne Bohingamuwa, Senior Lecturer, Dept of History and Archaeology, University of Ruhuna, Matara-81000, Sri Lanka
Being an island located at the crossroads of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka has been inseparably linked to countries and cultures across the Indian Ocean since prehistoric times. While its interactions with mainland India, Southeast Asia, and China are better known, the nature of the island’s relations with the west remains less explored. There are over forty references to Taprobane (Sri Lanka) in western sources, and it was considered an important trading entrepôt in the maritime trade by Cosmas Indicopleustes. Influenced by these textual sources, perhaps, discussions of Sri Lanka’s interactions with the west are largely based on textual analysis. However, a wealth of archaeological material assigned to the Western Indian Ocean in Sri Lanka and material of Sri Lankan origin in the west have also been found. Based on the analysis of beads, bangles, and ceramics unearthed from the port sites of Mantai, Kantharodai, and Kirinda and other key sites in Sri Lanka and elsewhere from the Indian Ocean, this paper argues that the island’s interactions with the western Indian Ocean were primarily trade and commercial. Diplomatic relations established at least since the time of Emperor Claudius facilitated such exchanges. Historical sources strongly support our claim.
Early Historic Ports, and Trade and Exchange Activities on the Southeast Coast of India and the Indian Ocean Maritime Landscapes
Assoc. Prof. V. Selvakumar, Dept of Maritime History and Marine Archaeology & Centre for Indian Ocean Studies, Tamil University, Thanjavur, India
The southeast coast of India covers the region of the east coast of India from Pulicat Lake to Kannyakumari on the southern tip of India, lying adjacent to the Bay of Bengal and northwest of Sri Lanka. The early historic period in this region, from ca. 500 BCE to 300 CE, witnessed urbanisation and long-distance exchanges. The region has the excavated port settlements of Arikamedu, Kaverippumpattinam, Alagankulam and Korkai. The maritime interactions between the hinterland of Tamil Nadu coast and the Indian Ocean Region forms the theme of this paper. The region had numerous settlements and industrial centres and resource rich areas in the hinterland. The commodities sourced from these centres were exchanged through the coastal ports with the Indian Ocean Region. The coastal towns also became centres of materials and industrial goods, such as glass beads, stone ornaments, textiles and various other commodities. This paper focuses on the connectivity, agents of trade and exchange and the Indian Ocean networks and landscapes based on material and textual sources.
Animals and their Presence in the Bay of Bengal Trade
Chandrima Shaha, Dept of Archaeology, University of Calcutta, West Bengal, India
Animals take a vital place in human society, whether for nourishment, transportation, manufacture, companionship, or as an inspiration for artistic expression and spiritual beliefs. As trade acts as a means for connecting and exchanging commodities and ideologies between landscapes and their inhabited communities, animals played a pivotal part in the interrelation, either physically or symbolically. Yet, often evidence is absent, whether due to environment, geographical location, site formation processes, or the locality that is being investigated. Lack of faunal evidence may impede the analysis, nonetheless there are alternative methods to investigate the presence of animals in cultural behaviours and exchange. This study shall attempt to investigate the problem through artefacts such as figurines, as well as mentions of animals and their status in contemporaneous historical texts. This will aid in better comprehension of the role of animal agency in human culture and trade networks over time, even if they leave little trace of their presence for archaeologists to find. The study region for this research is the Bay of Bengal, which is a part of the Indian Ocean network. This region has a rich history of maritime trade and cultural exchange, making it an ideal location to study the interaction between humans and animals in this specific geographical context.
Ethnographic Approach to the Astronomical Wisdom (“kaniyam nokkal”) of Kanniyakumari Fisher-folk
Jeromi Petrishya. M, Research Scholar, Dept of Maritime History and Marine Archaeology, Tamil University, Thanjavur, India
The traditional astronomical practice (Kaniyam nokkal) of the fisher-folk of Kanniyakumari region, Tamilnadu, India, serves as an exemplary case of Indigenous knowledge traditions and its integration into subsistence practice. This traditional knowledge encompasses a deep understanding of the stars, tides, and weather patterns, which has been passed down through generations. This Indigenous knowledge exemplifies the relationship between the community and its environment. This ancient wisdom to navigate the seas, predict weather conditions, and ensure successful fishing expeditions not only highlights observational skills, but also intimates the connection between humans and nature. While modern tools like GPS and weather forecasting have revolutionised fishing by providing accurate and real-time information on fish availability, the practice of kaniyam nokkal has been passed down through generations orally, from elders to younger members of the community. This method of transmission ensures that the intricate understanding of the sea and associated fishing practices are retained and adapted to changing conditions while maintaining a deep connection to the community’s cultural heritage. An ethnographical approach was adopted for this study and included field enquiries and observations. This paper aims to understand the Indigenous knowledge of marine science among the fisher folk of Kanniyakumari and practical dimensions of this knowledge system within the mukkuva fisher-folk community, revealing its significance and the challenges faced in the modern era. Preserving this ancient wisdom is not only vital for maintaining cultural heritage but also for promoting sustainable fishing practices.
Organisation of Spatial Activities at the Early Historic Commercial Centre of Pattanam: Identification of the Activity Areas
Hari Sankar B, Dept of Maritime History and Marine Archaeology, Tamil University, Thanjavur, India
V. Selvakumar, Dept of Maritime History and Marine Archaeology, Tamil University, Thanjavur, India
Dineesh Krishnan, Research Officer, Kerala Council for Historical Research, India
K. P. Shajan, Independent Researcher, India
Pattanam was an urban centre within the Muziris landscape on the West Coast of Kerala. The village is now located in North Paravoor in Kerala and the early historic settlement covers an area of more than 110 acres. Archaeological excavations at Pattanam have concentrated at various spots of the settlement, revealing a cultural deposit reaching a maximum of 4 m in the core area. Thirty-one trenches have been excavated in the core area, which revealed structures, features, and materials remains of indigenous and foreign origin, indicating the role of the site in Indian Ocean trade and exchange. Ring wells, toilet features, wharf, brick foundations and walls are the structural activities at the site. The wharf structure along with a canoe unearthed on the north-east side of the settlement points out that it was an access point to the site. The site was probably like an island, which needs further assessment through geo-archaeological studies. In this context, the paper focuses on how people at Pattanam organised the space for industrial activities, market, port and as a residential place in this core area in the Early Historic period. Furthermore, a probable activity map of the site will also be created.
Romans in India? Multicultural Pattanam
Alfred Bosch, Sikait Project, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Pattanam, an ancient port site in Kerala, India, has garnered significant attention as a key node in the Indian Ocean trade network during the Early Historic period. Archaeological evidence, including Roman amphorae, Mediterranean glassware, Indo-Pacific beads, and local artefacts, attests to the port’s extensive trade connections and multicultural milieu.
This study examines Pattanam as a site of cross-cultural interactions, focusing on the nature and scope of Roman involvement. By analysing material culture alongside literary references and comparative data, the research highlights the city’s integration into the wider Greco-Roman, Arabian, and Southeast Asian trade circuits.
Through a multidisciplinary approach, this paper situates Pattanam within the broader context of ancient globalisation, offering new perspectives on transcontinental interactions and the socio-economic transformations they engendered. By reassessing the material and textual evidence, the study contributes to the growing discourse on the role of South India in ancient global trade networks, providing understanding of Pattanam’s position as a multicultural and cosmopolitan hub in antiquity.
Shifting Tides: Recent Advances in Island and Coastal Human Bioarchaeology
Tatfeef Haque, Faculty of Sciences, University of Hong Kong
Michael Rivera, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Hong Kong
This talk examines the evolving landscape of human bioarchaeology, focusing on osteological and palaeopathological studies of coastal and island populations surrounding the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. Over the past fifteen years, significant advances have transformed our understanding of mobility, diet, physical activity, and health among ancient communities. By collating recent literature, key findings will illustrate: a) how ancient DNA analysis has complicated our knowledge of patterns in the region (e.g., Roopkund Lake), b) the importance of careful diagnosis regarding infectious diseases (e.g., treponemal diagnoses in Southeast Asia and signs of leprosy from Balathal), c) case studies of the bioarchaeology of care for disabled individuals (e.g., Metal Period Philippines), and d) the relationships between burial practices and embodied experiences among groups across the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Human palaeopathology (and bioarchaeology overall) often overlooks island and coastal populations, due to biases favouring continental studies. This neglect results in incomplete health narratives and underrepresentation of unique patterns of health, disease and development. Emphasising collaboration, diverse perspectives and a decolonial approach are essential to addressing these gaps. Together, we may enrich our understanding of human evolution among these marginalised yet historically significant communities.
Revisiting Harappan Trade Through the Lens of Pyrotechnology at the Site of Tigrana
Garima Singh, Deccan College Post Graduate Research Institute, Pune, India
The Harappan site of Tigrana in northwest India has recently yielded evidence of metallurgical and faience workshops with associated artefacts suggesting far-ranging hinterland and thriving international trade networks. It examines the technological and economic ramifications of these discoveries to reevaluate the significance of pyrotechnology in influencing the Harappan trade network.
The proposed research tries to identify economic interactions and trade influences through the analysis of seals and other artefacts, while complementing archaeological data with advanced methods, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Furthermore, analysing the slag deposits will reconstruct the metallurgical processes, and using the faience production residues will determine the type and scale of the different industries and the availability of raw materials.
Findings suggest that Tigrana was a crucial site of industrial activity within the region; locally produced craft items aid in facilitating both hinterland and long-distance trade. The presence of seals indicates its integration into broader Harappan trade systems, emphasising the significance of pyrotechnology in fostering economic exchange and cultural connectivity.
Ultimately, this research highlights the complexities of their trade systems and the role of technological advancements in their economic success.
The Gem and Pearl Trade in the Southern Coastal Area During the Medieval Period in Sri Lanka as Revealed from the Sandesha Kawyas
Kuruppu Arachchige Udani Udya, Dept of History and Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka
This paper examines the gem and pearl trade during the medieval period (12th–16th century CE) along Sri Lanka’s southern coast, as reflected in Sandesha Kawyas, the poetic messenger books, which serve as the primary sources for this study, supplemented by the Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka. The research focuses on the role of southern ports in Sri Lanka’s pearl trade, based on Sandesha Kawyas written during the Gampola period (1341–1412 CE). These texts were composed as poetic messages delivered by messenger birds. Among the eight Sandesha Kawyas, Thisara and Kokila Sandesha originate from Dondra, while Mayura and Parewi Sandesha end their journeys there. These works highlight the prominence of southern ports like Dewundara, Galle, Weligama, Bentota, and Beruwala in international trade, noting both the flourishing commerce of pearls and gems and instances of corruption among gem sellers. However, Godawaya, a major harbour, is not mentioned, as it lies outside the messengers’ routes. While the pearl and gem trade is mentioned in literary sources from the Anuradhapura period, archaeological evidence remains scarce. Foreign accounts, including those by Megasthenes, also reference this trade. This research concludes that the gem and pearl trade thrived along southern ports in medieval Sri Lanka.
Early Historic Trade Networks of the Periyar River Valley, Kerala, South India: Recent Excavations at Anappara, Idukki District and the Pattanam and Indian Ocean Connections
Dineesh Krishnan, Kerala Council for Historical Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
V. Selvakumar, Tamil University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
Rachel A. Varghese, IIT Bombay, Mumbai, India
Sarath Chandrababu, Kerala Council for Historical Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Mobeersha K. M., Kerala Council for Historical Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Sandra M. S., Kerala Council for Historical Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Akhila V., University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
B. Harishankar, Tamil University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
The early historic period in South India witnessed long distance connections and interactions. Urban centres emerged at the key nodes along the major trade networks. Roman trade was one of the important components in the long-distance trade of the Indian Ocean. Spices of the Western Ghats were among some of the important commodities. The port of Muziris has been spoken of much in literature, besides a few other ports. Roman coins have been reported in Kerala, and the archaeological indications from Pattanam provide evidence for Indian Ocean and Roman connections. Explorations in the Periyar river valley led to the identification of several megalithic sites. The site of Anappara in the Idukki district (near the Roman coin hoard site of Nedumkandam) has yielded evidence of a habitation site of the early historic period. Indo-pacific glass beads, carnelian and other stones beads, black and red ware ceramics, and iron objects with possible iron smelting evidence suggest that the site was one of the settlements associated with the hinterland network of the Periyar valley. The paper presents the findings from the site in relation to the megalithic sites and spice cultivation in the Idukki region and the networks of trade connecting early historic Indian Ocean centres.
Excavations at Alagankulam, the Ancient Sea Port Town on the East Coast of Southern India
Jaganathan Baskar, Archaeology Officer, Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Dept, Chennai, India
Alagankulam is an ancient port located close to the confluence of the river in the Bay of Bengal, about 24 km east of Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, on the east coast of India. This paper presents the results of the excavations conducted at Alagankulam between 2015 and 2017. In total, 57 trenches were excavated in both seasons. The earliest settlement took place at this site around the fourth century BCE. Alagankulam has revealed very few architectural remains, unlike other early historic urban sites. The important ceramics are: black-and-red ware, black ware, grey ware, red ware, rouletted ware in different shades, Northern Black Polished ware (NBPW), amphora fragments, terra sigillata (so called Arretine of Wheeler et al. 1946) wares, Chinese wares such as celadon and porcelain. The artefacts from the site include Roman coins, silver punch marked coins, inscribed potsherds, terracotta images, a decorated shell bangle, spindle whorls, semi-precious stone beads, seals and a carved human figure on a roulette ware sherd, and seeds or grain found in the brick silo. The excavation was intended to understand the nature of the activities at the settlement, the beginning of the settlement, the spatial organisation of cultural activities and overseas interactions.
Keeladi, an Urban Settlement of Sangam Age on the Banks of the River Vaigai, South India
Sivanantham Ramalingam, Tamil Nadu State Dept of Archaeology, India
Keeladi emerges as a significant archaeological site along the Vaigai River in Tamil Nadu. This site, just 13km southeast of the historic city of Madurai, is enveloped by natural water bodies, providing a strategic location for habitation and trade during early historical period of Tamil culture. The inception of systematic excavations in the site commenced in 2014 by the ASI and was followed by work by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology since 2017 that has yielded over 12,000 antiquities. The archaeological evidence from Keeladi includes structural elements like brick buildings, terracotta ring-wells, and specially designed roofing tiles, highlighting an advanced understanding of urban planning and environmental sustainability. The array of artefacts discovered, such as Roman and punch-marked coins, various pottery types, and beads crafted from semi-precious stones, point to Keeladi’s pivotal role in the intricate trade networks that spanned the Indian Ocean. Moreover, the presence of Tamili inscriptions and graffiti on potsherds enriches our understanding of the linguistic landscape and reflects a vibrant cultural life. This paper delves into how Keeladi served not just as a local settlement, but as a significant node in the cultural and economic exchanges across the Indian Ocean. By exploring the interplay of landscapes, rivers, and human societies, this study aims to enhance understanding of the pluralistic interactions that shaped early Tamil culture.
Exploring the Archaeology of Kolli Hills and the Ancient Trade Routes in Early Historic Tamil Nadu, South India
R. Basheer Ahamed, Research Scholar, Dept of Maritime History and Marine Archaeology, Tamil University, India
The Kolli Hills form part of the Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu and are situated on the northern side of the Kaveri River in Namakkal district. The author’s field studies have uncovered sites from the Prehistoric to historical periods. Microlithic sites are dispersed throughout the region, along with Iron Age megalithic burials and habitation sites. A trade route linking Kaveripoompattinam, Uraiyur, Karur, Kodumanal, and Perur ran through the central Kaveri valley, with the study area also being a part of this region. The excavation of Karur and Kodumanal sheds light on ancient trade connections between ancient Tamizhagam and foreign regions. During the Early Historic period, Uraiyur and Karur emerged as prosperous urban centres and served as the capitals of the Cholas and the Cheras, respectively. Additionally, this region was governed by the Kodumbalur Velirs, who served as chieftains under the Chola dynasty. The area is home to numerous temples, a handful of cave temples, and some Jain monuments. This study primarily examines the region’s history through archaeological and epigraphical evidence. The study focuses on the study area and its connection with the long distance trade routes of Central Tamil Nadu.
Typological and Scientific Study on Indian Rouletted Ware and Associated Fine Ware from Pattanam Archaeological Excavations
Sarat Chandrababu, Kerala Council of Historical Research, India
Indian Rouletted Ware and its associated fine ware ceramics (IRWAC) constitute a significant category of fine-ware pottery, symbolizing extensive cultural interactions across the Indian Ocean and South East Asia, West Asia, and the Mediterranean region. There are 149 sites where IRWAC has been reported so far. Understanding the spatiotemporal distribution and typology of the Indian rouletted ware and associated fine ware at Pattanam can be valuable for developing a micro chronology and recognizing the connections and linkages of Pattanam with other regions. The research aims to create a chronology for the Pattanam rouletted ware site through comparative and typological analysis. It also aims to understand design methods used in the ceramics, such as rouletting and chattering. The study differentiates variants of Rouletted Ware based on morphology, fabric, inclusions, surface treatment, and slip. The wares often have a polished red exterior and black interior surface coating, with some entirely coated in black. The variation in appearance may be due to pigments and colourants applied and firing methods, which could be understood through scientific methods, such as infrared spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis.
The Early Historic Trade Network in Western Tamil Nadu: the Kongalnagaram Excavations
Kaviya Rajamani, Archaeological officer, Dept of Archaeology, Government of Tamil Nadu, India
Dr Sivanantham Ramalingam, Joint Director, Dept of Archaeology, Government of Tamil Nadu, India
Prof. Rajan K., Academic and Research Advisor, Dept of Archaeology, Government of Tamil Nadu, India
Kongalnagaram, an emerging key archaeological site in Tamil Nadu’s Kongu region, is strategically located on the ancient highway Konga-p-peruvazhi, that connects Karur, Kongalnagaram, Negamam and Mucisri, sites renowned for their rich archaeological heritage. Recent excavations at Kongalnagaram have uncovered substantial evidence from both habitation and burial. Notable findings include carnelian beads highlighting trade contact, ivory dice implying economic sophistication, spindle whorls evidencing textile production, early literacy indicated from graffiti and Tamili inscribed potsherds. This paper examines the site’s archaeological potential, particularly focusing on the distribution of russet coated painted ware (RCPW) from excavated trenches. RCPW frequently occurrs as diagnostic ware of the region in prodigious quantities relative to other parts of the state and prevailed in Early Historical times. A detailed analysis of the shapes, forms, decorations, and designs of RCPW sheds light on their functional use and technological advancements. A comprehensive quantitative database had been developed by documenting the same, facilitating deeper inferences on distribution. This study further explores trade networks and artistic traditions, highlighting the region’s broader cultural interactions. The occurrences of this ware in a limited quantity in the contact zones in association with other artefacts that emerged from the Kongu region indirectly indicate nature of trade and cultural contacts.