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The Pattanam mystery
May 2 , 2023
573 days
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- The archaeological site of Pattanam is located on the South-western coast in Kerala’s Ernakulam district.
- It is believed by historians to be part of the ancient port city of the Muziris.
- Ancient Muziris played a key role in trade and cultural exchanges between India and the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean regions.
- The excavations suggest that the site was first occupied by the indigenous and ‘Megalithic’ (Iron Age) people.
- They are followed by the Roman contact in the early historic period.
- It appears that the site was continuously occupied at least from the 2nd century BC to the 10th century AD.
- The mitochondrial DNA of 12 ancient skeletal samples shows the presence of both South Asian and West Eurasian-specific lineages.
- The Pattanam excavations have unearthed over 45 lakh sherds (ceramic fragments).
- This includes approximately 1.4 lakh belonging to the littoral regions of the Mediterranean, the River Nile, the Red Sea, the western and eastern Indian Oceans, and the South China Sea.
- Recent findings include the seal of a sphinx, native to the ancient Greek city of Thebes.
- There is no evidence that institutionalised religion existed in ancient Pattanam till date.
- This iron-age and post-iron-age site was also absence of sophisticated weaponry.
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