KCHR Press Release
“Pattanam produces the largest quantity of Roman amphora sherds
ever found from an Indo-Roman site in the Indian Ocean rim.”
“West Asian contacts predates the Roman contacts at Pattanam”
“Site floruit facilitated by a host of artisan groups”
The third season archaeological research at Pattanam
to conclude in the first week of May.
Introduction
The archaeological excavations (2007, ‘08 & ‘09) undertaken by the Kerala
Council for Historical Research [KCHR] at Pattanam are the pioneering initiatives
of inter-disciplinary research in Kerala Archaeology. British Academy (BASAS)
recently accorded recognition for the formation of an international research group
based
on
Pattanam.
(http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/20/stories/2009032054890700.htm)
Pattanam is a small village (10°09.434N; 76°12.587E) in the Ernakulam district
of Kerala, located 9 km south of Kodungallur, and the site covers about 45
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destroyed due to sand quarrying.
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hectares. Due to habitation activities it is a “disturbed” site; some parts are partially
The excavations have brought forth a variety of tangible evidence for the multicultural, urban, architectural and maritime features of the site. The Mediterranean
connections are explicit from the large quantity of amphora sherds, the terra
sigillata sherds, cameo blanks and Roman glassware fragments. The West Asian
links are evident from ceramics such as storage jars from South Arabia, and from
Mesopotamia ‘torpedo’ jars and Turquoise Glazed Pottery (TGP) dating from the
Parthian/Sassanian periods and possibly later. The other important finds include
architectural features, a wharf structure, canoe, bollards, copper, gold and iron
objects, semi-precious stone and glass beads, early Chera coins and late Medieval
Chinese sherds. Excavations also recovered a variety of ecofacts including pepper,
cardamom and rice. The site seems to have been first occupied by indigenous
population around 1000 BC and continued to be active till the 10 th century AD.
The AMS 14C analysis of the charcoal and wood samples from the Iron Age layer
and wharf contexts have determined their antiquity as first millennium BC.
Third Season
The 3rd season which began on March 3rd will continue till the first week of May
2009. In the season, three trenches of 3x5 m and another 2x3m, were dug at the
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Padamadathil plot and the Government LP school compound respectively.
Finds
Small finds abound and include a variety of non-local (foreign) ceramics, a large
number of semi-precious stone and glass beads(over 3000), copper coins, most of
them in a corroded condition, iron, copper, gold and tin artifacts, cameo blanks,
spindle whorls, terracotta lamps, etc. This time also the trenches produced
structural remains and huge quantities of re-used bricks and broken roof tiles. The
intact bricks measured 40x20x7cm. Local pottery sherds numbering over 4 lakhs
imply the density of habitation in the site.
Interpretative inferences
1. The third season (2009) archaeological excavations at Pattanam reiterates the
assumption that Pattanam might be the oldest port site with extensive evidence for
Roman contacts on the Indian Ocean rim – or “beyond the imperial frontiers” of
Rome as Mortimer Wheeler would have said. The peak of Roman contacts seems
to have been between the 1st century BC and 2nd century AD. The number of
amphora sherds in the third season – around 500- was more than the previous
seasons despite lesser area excavated. The initial inference from the field is that the
majority comprise the Campanian type of South Italian origin with volcanic
the Roman amphorae by Dr Roberta Tomber (British Museum) will confirm their
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amphora sherds are also found. Specialist study, including thin section analysis, of
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elements. Greek sources like Kos and Rhodes, and Egyptian and Mesopotomian
provenance. Pattanam has yielded arger number of Roman amphora sherds (over
1000) than any other site in the Indian Ocean rim.
2. Another important inference of this season’s work is that the West Asian
contacts predate the Roman contacts at the site. In all the three trenches of the
Padamadathil plot, glazed pottery (TGP) of Mesopotamian origin and rouletted
pottery were found in the Iron Age – Early Historic transition layers. Amphora
sherds were conspicuous by their absence. This would mean that the site could
have been commercially active before the arrival of the Romans, i.e. before the 2nd
century BC. However, the site’s floruit seems to have been between the 2nd
century BC and 4th century AD.
3.
The evidences further point to the possibility that site had the benefit of the
services of a large number of artisans and technicians, but not necessarily residing
at the site. The plethora of artifacts and structures indicate that this site could not
have been provisioned without a skilled workforce of blacksmiths (large quantity
of iron objects like nails, tools etc.), coppersmiths (copper objects), goldsmiths
(ornaments), potters (huge quantity of domestic vessels, lamps, oven and other
terracotta objects), brick makers, bricklayers, roofers (large quantity of bricks and
triple grooved roof-tiles), stone bead makers, lapidaries (as indicated variety of
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spindle whorls and jerry), stonecutters/polishers etc. Soil loci of blackish and grey
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semi-precious stone beads, cameo blanks and stone debitage), weavers (signified
hues indicate some type of kiln activity. Chemical analyses of the soil samples are
necessary to confirm the nature of industrial activity.
Research Team
The trench supervisors of the third season were Dineesh Krishnan (KCHR), Sujana
Stephen (KCHR), Rachel Varghese (JNU) and Jenusha K. S (KCHR). The pottery
yard was supervised by Vijimol P.K (KCHR) and Vasudevan K (KCHR).
Dr. P.J. Cherian (KCHR) was the project director and Dr. V. Selvakumar (Tamil
University) and Dr. K.P. Shajan (UK) the co-directors. Dr. Steven Sidebotham
(University of Delaware, USA) and Dr. K. Rajan (Pondicherry University), were
the field archaeology consultants.
The scholars/experts visited included Dr. K N Panikkar (Chairman KCHR) Dr. A
C Narayana (Hyderabad University), Dr. M D Kajale, (Deccan College of
Archaeology, Pune) Dr. Rajan Gurukkal, (MG University) Dr. Kesavan Veluthat
(Mangalore University) Dr. Tilok Thakuria (Deccan College of Archaeology) Dr.
Biju (University of Cochin) and Dr. D V. Reddy (NGRI, Hyderabad).
Hon. Minister for Education and Culture Sri M A Baby is expected to visit the site
on May 2nd 2009.
Professor P J Cherian,
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Director KCHR