Essay:
Arikamedu – The Lost Roman Trading Port Of India
By Subhadip Mukherjee
Posted in pondicherry, travelogues - September 16, 2016

Travelling to a heritage site always makes me happy the reason being that I get to transform myself back centuries and feel the grandeur amongst the ruins. When I was traveling to Pondicherry and was researching the various interesting places in and around Pondicherry then I chanced upon the name of Arikamedu. Searching online revealed that this is an archaeological site currently under ASI (Archaeological Survey of India).

Interestingly Arikamedu has a history that not many are aware of and the significance of the place is not only important for India but ancient Rome (Europe) also. Arikamedu was one of the most important and prominent trading ports of India with the Roman Empire dated as early as 2 BC. This place also finds a mention in Periplus Maris Erythrian which is basically the trade route map of the Roman Empire.

For some reason, this trading port was lost in history and only finds being mentioned centuries later in the year 1734 when the French East India Company informed their reporting station that they have stumbled upon an ancient site. During its excavation in 1765, it was reported that some brick structures were present. However, the major excavation on this site was carried on during 1937 by Gabriel Jouveau Dubreuil where he found gemstones, engraved stones and some beads which were one of the most important trading items from this port of Arikamedu.

The first major work by ASI on this site was undertaken by Sir Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler in the year 1945. It is to be noted that Sir Wheeler was the then Director General of ASI. The excavation which was done in phases led to the discovery of jars, wine making jars, beads, gemstones, roman cutlery etc.

Interestingly Sir Wheeler had used the grid method for this excavation which was similar to other excavations that he would further conduct around the world. The excavation at Arikamedu was also important in dating the finds as the various objects could be classified and the exact date of its existence be narrowed upon.

Read more:

http://bit.ly/2HYG3bqhttps://dailydigesthub.com">CLICK NOW!