Poompuhar Underwater Excavations And Chola Maritime Trade

Poompuhar Excavations Reveal Ancient Chola Trade Links

Source: Indian Express
GS I- Indian Heritage and Culture

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Why in the News?

Recent underwater excavations at Poompuhar, the ancient Chola port city in Tamil Nadu, have uncovered evidence of its maritime connections with West Asia and the wider Indian Ocean region.

News in Brief

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• Poompuhar, also known as Kaveripoompattinam, was an important ancient port situated near the mouth of the Cauvery River in Tamil Nadu.
• Archaeological evidence indicates that the city was an active trading centre, with merchants dealing in goods from India, Southeast Asia, and other regions.
• The 18-day exploration was conducted by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) in collaboration with the Indian Maritime University.
• The findings provide fresh insights into the Chola period’s overseas trade, maritime networks, and the possible submergence of the ancient port due to coastal changes.

Poompuhar: An Important Chola Port

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• Poompuhar is located in Mayiladuthurai district of Tamilnadu, near the mouth of the 800 km long Cauvery River, where it empties into the Bay of Bengal.
• It is believed to have served as the capital of the early Cholas and was a prominent port during the Sangam and post-Sangam periods.
• A 2011 archaeological report suggested that the city had existed from the 4th-5th century BCE.
• The ancient port was divided into three major areas;
  • Maruvurpakkam: Located along the seashore
  • Pattinappakkam: Situated towards the West
  • A third area, Nalangadi, lay between the two.
• The port was a busy commercial centre, and its strategic location enabled trade with regions across the Indian Ocean.

Evidence of Maritime Trade with West Asia

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Archaeological evidence	Significance
West Asian-style torpedo jar	Indicates maritime connections with West Asia and the Mediterranean region.
Glass fragments	Suggest overseas trade and the movement of goods through maritime routes.
Terracotta objects and pottery	Provide evidence of the material culture and commercial activity of the ancient settlement.
Submerged structures and wells	Indicate the existence of an organised urban settlement near the ancient coastline.

• One of the significant discoveries is a fragment of a fine-ceramic West Asian torpedo jar, estimated to have a diameter of around 30-35 cm.
• Such vessels were historically used to transport liquid cargo, including wine and olive oil, across oceanic trade routes.
• Their presence at Poompuhar provides evidence of the port’s connections with West Asia and the Mediterranean world.

Poompuhar’s Maritime and Commercial Significance

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• Poompuhar was a major centre of overseas trade during the Chola period.
• Merchants from across India and Southeast Asia visited the city, which served as a marketplace for different commodities.
• Historical accounts indicate that goods from the Gangetic region, food products from Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and spices from Java were traded through the port.
• Maritime trade contributed to the expansion of commerce, cultural exchanges and the movement of religious and artistic traditions.
• The findings strengthen the understanding of Poompuhar as part of a wider maritime network connecting the Indian subcontinent with Southeast Asia, West Asia and the Mediterranean.
• The discoveries also suggest that Poompuhar’s commercial connections extended beyond the present-day coastline.

Other Archaeological Discoveries

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• Recent explorations have uncovered several additional structures and artefacts that provide insights into the city’s urban and economic life.
• Brick structures, terracotta wells, storage jars and clay patches appear to belong to the Sangam period.
• Researchers noted that these structures may have been used as part of a public building, wharf or reservoir.
• Traditional wells were constructed on dry land to access freshwater, while the discovery of similar structures beneath the sea suggests that parts of the settlement were subsequently submerged.
• These findings provide evidence of an organised settlement with facilities supporting trade, water management and maritime activities.

Poompuhar: The Lost City

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• Poompuhar is associated with the ancient port city described in Sangam Literature and Tamil literary traditions.

• According to historical accounts, catastrophic floods and coastal changes are believed to have destroyed or submerged significant portions of the ancient settlement around the 4th or 5th century CE.
• The recent underwater discoveries have renewed interest in the possibility that the ancient port extended beyond the present coastline.
• However, scholars differ on the exact nature and extent of the submergence.
• Some suggest that the entire city was submerged and rebuilt after the sea receded, while others believe that only parts of the settlement were engulfed by the sea.
• The latter explanation is considered plausible in view of the archaeological evidence of coastal erosion and rising sea levels.
• The Tamil literary tradition also associates Poompuhar with the worship of the sea goddess Manimekhalai and the belief that the city was swallowed by the sea.

Archaeological Significance

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• Underwater archaeology helps reconstruct ancient settlements, trade routes and coastal landscapes that are no longer visible on land.
• In the case of Poompuhar, it can help establish;
  • The geographical extent of the ancient port
  • The nature of its overseas trade connections
  • The impact of coastal erosion and sea-level changes on early settlements.
  • The relationship between literary accounts and acrchaelogical evidence.

Conclusion

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The underwater discoveries at Poompuhar highlight the maritime legacy of the Cholas and India’s historic trade links with West Asia. Further archaelogical research can deepen our understanding of ancient trade networks and coastal changes.

UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Questions

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With reference to Poompuhar, consider the following statements:

1. Poompuhar was an important ancient port associated with the early Cholas.
2. The discovery of West Asian-style torpedo jars indicates maritime connections with regions beyond the Indian subcontinent.
3. Poompuhar is located on the western coast of India along the Arabian Sea.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

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