Two Kilometres Off TN Coast, A Lost World Emerges From The Sea, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• Archaeologists have discovered fragments of West Asian torpedo jars off the coast of Poompuhar (also known as Kaveripoompattinam) in Tamil Nadu.
• The pottery fragments were found approximately 2 kilometres from the present shoreline, at a depth of 10-12 metres, during the third phase of underwater exploration.
• This discovery provides material evidence of Poompuhar's extensive transoceanic trade networks with West Asia during the Early Historic period.
• The exploration is part of a larger underwater archaeology project by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology in collaboration with the Indian Maritime University.

Poompuhar Discovery.jpg

Detailed Insights:

• The ancient port city of Poompuhar, located at the mouth of the Cauvery River where it meets the Bay of Bengal, was a significant hub for maritime trade for the early Chola kings.
• Torpedo jars are distinctive transport vessels associated with long-distance maritime trade in the Indian Ocean, often used for liquids like wine or olive oil.
• The findings corroborate descriptions in Sangam literature such as Pattinappalai, Manimekalai, and Silappathikaram, which portray Poompuhar as a cosmopolitan urban and maritime centre with foreign contacts.
• The ongoing project aims to map the extent of the ancient port, locate shipwrecks, and study changes in sea levels and the course of the Cauvery.
• Similar archaeological evidence of trade with the Mediterranean and West Asia, including Roman amphorae and torpedo jars, has been found at other ancient Indian port sites like Pattanam (Kerala), Alagankulam (Tamil Nadu), and Arikamedu (Puducherry).
• The term Yavanas in ancient Tamil texts, originally referring to Ionians (Greeks), later broadened to include people from the Hellenistic and Roman Mediterranean world and other western foreigners, indicating a rich cultural exchange.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Poompuhar (Kaveripoompattinam): An ancient port city and capital of the early Chola kings in Tamil Nadu, known for its extensive maritime trade.
• Torpedo Jars: Elongated, pointed-base ceramic vessels used for transporting liquids like oil and wine in ancient Indian Ocean trade networks.
• Sangam Literature: A collection of ancient Tamil poetic works (circa 300 BCE to 300 CE) providing insights into early South Indian society, culture, and trade.
• Yavanas: A term in ancient Indian texts, initially referring to Greeks, later encompassing Western foreigners involved in trade with India.