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<< Text Pages >> Muziris - Ancient Village or Settlement in India

Submitted by DrewParsons on Saturday, 22 May 2010  Page Views: 7445

Multi-periodSite Name: Muziris Alternative Name: Muchiri, Mahodayapuram, Shinkli, Muyirikkodu
Country: India
NOTE: This site is 30.436 km away from the location you searched for.

Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Nearest Town: Kochi  Nearest Village: Pattanam
Latitude: 10.174000N  Longitude: 76.175000E
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
2 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
no data Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
no data Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
2

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Ancient sea port of Muziris in southern India

The village of Pattanam is the site of the ancient sea port of Muziris described by Pliny the Elder, as well as by ancient Egyptian and Greek writers and traders. Excavations over many years have sought to establish that nearby Kodungallur was ancient Muziris, but since 2005 archaeological work at Pattanum village has turned up a wealth of evidence that it was the location of this ancient port. A major find is a lion carving on a semi precious stone tentatively dated to between the 1st century BC and 4th century AD based on the depth at which it was found. Also retreived are copper antimony rods probably used in cosmetics, pot sherds, Roman amphora, early Chera coins, turquoise glazed pottery, and cameo blanks for making jewellery, especially popular in Rome.


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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 56.9km N 353° Cherumangadu Kudakkalparambu* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 58.8km ESE 116° Nedumala Caves Cave or Rock Shelter
 66.5km NE 39° Dayananda Ashram Ancient Village or Settlement
 109.2km E 85° Marayoor Muniyaras* Barrow Cemetery
 128.6km ESE 110° Thovalappady Cist
 165.8km N 3° Sulthan Bather Dolmen* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 166.0km N 3° Edakkal Caves Cave or Rock Shelter
 170.8km SSE 160° Janardana Swami Temple Ancient Temple
 179.6km NE 54° Kodumanal Ancient Village or Settlement
 180.4km N 360° Kappikunnu Rock Art
 182.1km E 98° Puthurmalai Rock Art
 195.8km SE 131° Kilikkallingal Kodakkal stones* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 206.1km SSE 156° Padmanabhaswamy Temple* Ancient Temple
 214.8km E 97° Sri Meenakshi Devi temple* Ancient Temple
 217.1km NE 49° Shri Sangameshvara temple, Bhavani, Tamil Nadu* Ancient Temple
 256.3km NNE 12° Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Srirangapatna)* Ancient Temple
 258.1km NE 37° Male Mahadeshwara Hills* Stone Circle
 273.1km E 84° Kudminatha Temple* Ancient Temple
 277.6km SSE 147° Kanniyakumari* Ancient Temple
 279.8km E 84° Sithannavasal* Barrow Cemetery
 285.1km E 82° Vijayalaiaieswar temple* Ancient Temple
 285.1km ENE 75° Rock Fort temple* Ancient Temple
 285.4km ENE 74° Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Tiruchirapalli)* Ancient Temple
 285.8km E 82° Narthamalai temples* Ancient Temple
 287.7km E 82° Ammachatram* Barrow Cemetery
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"Muziris" | Login/Create an Account | 3 News and Comments
  
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Re: Muziris by kunjethy on Tuesday, 14 February 2012
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In many accounts of Pattanam excavations it is seen that writers often jump to the conclusion that Pattanam is Muziris, to the exclusion of all other locations. However it would be more scientific and more prudent to wait foe excavations and investigations of other spots, at least neighbouring areas like Kodungallur. A more serous study of the past descriptions of Muziris and its environs and for the products exported from Muziris and for the sea routes to Muziris as in Pliny, the Periplus, Strabo &c. is warranted, or at least the modern accounts of these authors' statements as in K.P.P. Menon(Kerala History), K. M. Panicker, or at least George Menachery, Kodungallur...1987 or its web version at This is a link
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The tales that potsherds tell at Pattanam by Andy B on Tuesday, 24 August 2010
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The tales that potsherds tell at Pattanam

The fourth season of the multi-disciplinary excavation undertaken by the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) at Pattanam in Kerala’s Eranakulam district began in the first week of February 2010 and concluded in the second week of June 2010. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Thrissur Circle, was a collaborative partner, while a number of universities and research institutes in India and abroad extended academic support. This is a field report of the fourth season of the dig.

Reconstructing life at Pattanam, as revealed by the material finds, was the primary objective. The other objectives of the season were to investigate overseas contacts, clarify the cultural sequence and estimate the extent of the Pattanam archaeological site.

The methodology of excavation followed was ‘locus based,’ which distinguishes each activity-area/layer/feature/pit/structure (termed ‘locus’) on the basis of colour, texture, character and composition. The search was not for antiquities per se, but for activity contexts and their relationships. The Harris Matrix tool was used to ensure critical restraint over the digging and to systematise documentation. It also helped to examine, identify and interpret cultural strata based on the locus-wise distribution of artefacts.

Four main trenches of 7 x 4 metres size, separated by 1.25 m baulks, were opened at the Padamadathil plot. Eight evaluation pits of 1.5 x 2.5 m were dug on the boundaries of the site to understand the variations in stratigraphy and the depositional history.

The major finds are the following:

Pottery: Pottery fragments, both local and foreign, continue to be the dominant cultural artefact, and during this season the local pottery sherds approximated a staggering two million. The obvious indication is dense habitation in the Early Historic period, as suggested by the abundance of finds in the corresponding strata. The small and medium sized terracotta bowls seem to be the most prevalently used since almost two-thirds of the rims obtained are of this category. Cooking vessels were fewer in number, going by the incidence of soot particles.

The pottery carry the fingerprints of the ancient people of Tamilakam, and reflect their social and physical environment. It is an indicator of their mastery over tools, and their skills and cultural interactions. The diagnostic pieces (rim and base), those with designs, grooves or impressions, edge ground and those with other distinct features, are sorted, documented and conserved. On many Indian excavation sites the body sherds of coarse ware are usually discarded after weighing and numbering. But we have held them back. They can be made available for further studies and can be designed as mementos or reconstructed as museum exhibits. These hand-crafted antiquities deserve more care and respect.

The imported and fine pottery assemblage comprises Roman, West Asian, Indian Rouletted Ware (IRW) and a host of other unidentified fine wares. The number of Roman amphora sherds and Terra Sigillata excavated at Pattanam continued to be impressive and its record as the largest assemblage of Roman pottery in India will have deeper implications in understanding the Roman role in Indian Ocean trade. This season alone brought forth over 2,000 amphora sherds.

The West Asian assemblage consists of green-blue glazed Parthian/Sassanian ceramics (Turquoise Glazed Pottery) and torpedo jar sherds. Their number is around 1,400. According to West Asian expert Dr. Derek Kennet of Durham University, who visited Pattanam this season, the West Asian ceramic assemblage suggests the commercial significance of Pattanam during the Roman, pre-Roman and post-Roman phases. The chronology he proposes is from the 3rd century B.C. as indicated by 'fish plates' of the Parthian period, through the Sassanian period, to the 9th century A.D. If scientifically established it would unravel

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Re: Muziris by DrewParsons on Saturday, 22 May 2010
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More evidence unearthed at ancient port of Muziris. This news item was resourced by coldrum from The Hindu newspaper. Unfortunately the item is now longer available on line at The Hindu.

Pattanam, a small village located 25 km north of Kochi, is the new pilgrimage spot on the international archaeological map. This quiet place, archaeologists now confirm, was once the flourishing port known to the Romans as Muziris and sung in praise by the Tamil Sangam poets as Muciri.

Every year since 2005, excavations have yielded artefacts, structures and even a canoe in one instance to confirm this conclusion. This year has also been productive for archaeologists.

A figure of a pouncing lion carved in great detail on a semi precious stone and a bright micro metal object with intricate designs are two of the special objects found during the ongoing excavations that began in February. Copper antimony rods, usually associated with cosmetic use, were also found.

The semi precious stone with the lion figure measures about 2 cm and is rounded at the edge. It appears to be part of a pendant or a ring.

The object is yet to be dated in a scientific manner, but going by the depth at which it was found, it is tentatively placed in the early historic period — 1st century BCE to 4th century CE. It was during this time that trade with the West Asian and Roman ports was extensive.

P.J. Cherian, director, Pattanam Excavation, thinks these ornamental metal objects and work on semi- precious stones reflect the fine artisanship that was prevalent at that time.

Dr. Cherian's team has found a multitude of pottery shards, including that of a Roman amphora, early Chera coins, turquoise glazed pottery and cameo blanks (cameos were popular jewellery in ancient Rome). These attest to the existence of an active habitation and trading activities.

Despite abundant references in Roman and Tamil texts, Muziris, the famous western trade post, remained elusive to archaeologists for long.

Places such as Thiruvanchikulam and Kodungallur were initially thought to be Muziris, but excavations at these places did not yield any evidence. The trail excavations at Pattanam began in 2005, and the evidence obtained since has finally helped archaeologists locate the ancient port.

In 2006, the Kerala government launched the Muziris Heritage Project to “scientifically retrieve and preserve the legacy of Muziris.”

The Kerala Council for Historical Research has undertaken inter-disciplinary archaeological research, and the fourth season of excavations is on.

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