Pattanam

Discoveries from Pattanam

The excavations uncovered a diverse range of remains, offering important insights into the Malabar Coast's interactions with the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and China. The majority of the excavated objects date to the Early Historic period of south Indian or Kerala history, spanning from c. 3rd century BCE to the 5th century CE.

• Structural evidence includes a wharf, a 6-metre dugout canoe crafted from anjili wood, and Teak-wood mooring bollards. The wharf was made of Laterite granules, lime, and Clay and had a brick lining (made of burnt bricks).

• The ceramic assemblage was overwhelmingly dominated by south Asian wares (Black and Red Ware, Russet Coated Painted Ware, Indian Rouletted Ware, and 'Type 10' fine grey ware). Alongside these, a diverse array of imported ceramics attests to extensive maritime trade networks from the early historic period, connecting the site with the Mediterranean world, the Middle East, and China.

• Contact with the Mediterranean is evidenced by amphora sherds and terra sigillata fragments, as well as carnelian intaglios (depicting the goddess Tyche/Fortuna and a leaping lion), cameo blanks made from semi-precious stones, and fragments of Roman glass. Additional foreign imports include Turquoise glazed Pottery from Southern Iran and torpedo jars of Mesopotamia.

The material culture recovered at Pattanam encompassed beads crafted from a variety of semi-precious stones/glass, granite grinding implements, stone weights, and Terracotta objects. In addition, artefacts fashioned from metals — including Iron, Copper, Lead, and Gold (such as a miniature axe pendant/ornament) — were also documented. In addition, square copper coins of the Chera dynasty, bearing the bow-and-arrow insignia, have been unearthed at the site. Among the notable discoveries were a broken rim inscribed with Brahmi script.

The site yielded botanical remains such as Black pepper, Cardamom, and frankincense, alongside faunal remains consisting of bone fragments and teeth. Chinese ceramics — comprising blue-and-white, white-glazed, and brown-glazed porcelain — indicate commercial interactions with East Asia during the Early Modern to Modern period.

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  Amphorae sherds, Pattanam
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  Carnelian intaglios, Pattanam
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  Tamil-Brahmi Inscription, Pattanam
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  Tubular jars, Pattanam
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  Wharf, Pattanam

Criticisms

The identification of present-day Pattanam with the legendary port of Muziris — celebrated in several Greco-Roman sources as one of the premier Indian Ocean centres of the spice trade — has been questioned by some scholars.

An alternative view places Muziris at Kodungallur, located north of Pattanam. Arguments supporting this include its historical role as a medieval port or capital and the reference to the port of "Muyirikkode" in the Jewish Copper Plates. In addition, the absence of comparable excavations at other sites in Kerala, such as Kodungallur, is considered a significant gap in the debate.

Further reading

• ... Kerala's Pattanam ...
• "Search for India's Ancient City". BBC News. 11 June 2006.
• Cherian, P. J.; Prasad, G. V. Ravi; Dutta, Koushik; Ray, Dinesh Kr.; Selvakumar, V.; Shajan, K. P. (2009). "Chronology of Pattanam: a Multi-Cultural Port site on the Malabar Coast". Current Science. 97 (2): 236–240. ISSN 0011-3891.
• "The Seventh Season Pattanam Excavation (2013)" (PDF). Kerala Council for Historical Research. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016.
• Haridas, Anand (29 May 2010). "Pattanam Excavation Significant: Baby". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2025.