Ancient ports of TamilNadu coast have played a dominant role in the transoceanic trade since very early times. It has more than 800 KM coastline with several major and minor ports along the coast. The earliest literature of TamilnNadu popularly known as Sangam literature datable between the 3rd Century BC and 3rd Century AD mentions about the maritime trade of Tamil Nadu with countries like South East Asia, Ceylone, Malaya, Roman countries and China. The important ports mentioned are Arikamedu, Kaveripoompatinam, Korkai,Nagapattinam, etc. The foreign accounts of Pliny, Periplus, Itsing and Fahien, have mentioned about the ports of TamilNadu and the items of trade. Some of the sites like Kaveripattinam, Korkai and Arikamedu have been excavated extensively and evidence on the trade and commerce with other countries have been recorded. Underwater investigations at Poompuhar and Mahabalipuram have confirmed the existence of the submerged structural remains.
Many of the ports have been mentioned in the literature as well as in the inscriptions, which needs investigations to confirm their existence. The sites covered during the recent explorations are Mahabalipuram, Punjeri, Vasavasamudram, Arikamedu, Porto-Novo,Tranquebar, Thondi, Kodikarai, Thirumalarayanpattinam, Devipattinam, Manora, Manakudi, Puttan-Thurai, Korkai, Periyapattinam, Alagankulam, Rameshwaram, Kayalpattinam and Kulasekharapattinam. The data collected at the above sites are supporting the literary evidences to prove their existence as ports.
Among all, the remains of British period jetty were observed with a memory stone explaining the war between Hyder Ali and British at Porto-Novo. At Arikamedu the Roman settlement followed by French was confirmed on the creek, which provided anchoring facility to their vessels. Naval battles between French and British resulted many shipwrecks in the vicinity. Partly disturbed Chola temple and the remains of Dutch fort were noticed in inter tidal zone of Tranquebar. Alagankulam was an important port during the early centuries of the Christian era. Roman ships laden with their wine in Amphorae jars and other goods. A mooring stone was exposed up to 75 cm with two square holes near the shore. A British period warehouse was also noticed near shore. At Kodikarai a watch tower / light house of ancient period was observed in the inter tidal zone.
The antiquity of Periapattinam suggests that it was once a flourishing port particularly in the 12th-14th century AD. A stone anchor was reported near Kappalaru between Periyapattinam village and the sea coast. Korkai, an important port for pearl fishing referred in Sangam literature and located on sea coast but presently it is located about 7 KM inland may be due to regression of the sea. An ancient site about 5 KM on the north-eastern side of Present Rameshwaram temple was explored, where 2-3 M habitational deposit along the coast was observed. Probably this could have been served as a harbour as it is located in a safer place. Kayalpattinam and Kulasekharapattinam were busy ports of horse trade during medieval period resulting large number of Muslims engaged in trade even today. Let’s hope the new Marine Archaeological Explorations would bring more knowledge on the ancient maritime works.
Raju Kannan
Research Scholar
1 comment:
Hey! this is cool one.. quite informative too.
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