Dr.R.Nagaswamy
#2E8B57
Roman Sites in Tamil Nad: Recent Discoveries
That the Roman settled on the Coromandal coast of Tamil Nad, towards the beginning of Common era, has been established by excavations at Arikkamedu, near Pondichery first by the French Archaeologists and later by Sir Mortimer Wheeler. Detailed reports of this find have appeared both in Acient India and the West(1). Earlier finds of large number of Roman coins in Tamil Nad, appearing as Treasure Troves did attract the attention of scholars, who were able to assess their importance in relation to the references in classical works like Pliny. Recent explorations and excavations by the Tamil Nadu State Archaeological Department, has brought to light three important sites in Tamil Nadu revealing Roman contacts.
VASAVASAMUDRAM
The first one is Vasavasamudram, a village eleven miles south of Mamallapuram. The site is two kilometers from the mouth of the Palar river, a principal river in Tondai Mandalam region. Kanchipuram, the celebrated city of the South, is connected to the sea, through the Palar river at this site. It is well known that Kanchipuram attracted people from far and near even from the time of Asoka in 3rd Century B.C.
An accidental discovery led to the finding of evidence of Roman contact at this site. The owner of a site, found large heaps of shells undr the earth in his garden while digging. He threw away the potsherds and earthern ware and collected the shells for lime. The matter was reported to the author and an examination of the site proved to be of some interest.
An emergency excavation at the site, by the author brought to light many potsherds and brick structures, resembling in detail the findings at Arikkamedu. The important finds are the conical vases,(2) rouletted ware of both Mediterranian and indigenous origin, a well preserved neck portion of an amphorae of Mediterranian origin, a much damaged brick structure with drain pipes and two ring wells close to each others as found at Arikkamedu.
The presense of amphorea and rouletted ware, and other assemblages point to the Roman contact, though the excavated site seems to have been occupied for a short period towards 3rd Century CE. This assumes significance in the light of Roman coins found at Mamallapuram.
KARUR
The second site of greater significance is Karur, in Trichy district, where the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology, conducted excavation for three seasons. Karur is well known to the students of Tamil History as the Capital of the Chera rulers of the Sangam age. Several hundred Roman coins have been found in Karur over hundred years ago. It is an industrial town and is built up over the ancient settlement on the banks of river Amravati (An-Porunai of the Sangam classic). Large scale Excavation of the site is rendered difficult due to paucity of open grounds.
A house site with a brick flooring and a drain adjoining a brick structure were found. But the important finds are several potsherds with Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions, assignable to the beginning of the Christian era. The Earliest deposit is black and red ware, rolled by the river sand. The inscribed potsherds occur with sherds of Roman amphorae and rouletted ware of Mediterranian origin. Another important find in the same level is the moulded pottery of Kaolin (white clay) usually found in Roman sites in the West Coast. At later levels occur russet coated, painted black and red ware. A solitary arratine sherd also attests to the Roman contact.
The recent excavations at Karur by Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department should be viewed in the light of finds in and around Karur. About 20 Kilometres from Karur is the hillock called Arunattarmalai (Pugalur) where ancient Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions are found on the rock bed and also on the overhanging rock. It refers to three generations of Chera rulers, Ko-Adan-Cel-Irumporai, his son Perumkadungo and his son Ilamkadungo. Ilamkadungo made the abode for the jain ascetic Senkayapan of Yarur when he was crowned young Prince. These three Chera rulers are identical with the Cheras of the Sangam age. Further the inscriptions also refer to a gold merchant of Karuvur. It is evident that the modern Karur in Trichy district was the Capital of the Cheras of the Sangam age and that it had a flourishing gold market.
The find of Roman amphorae, Arritine ware, rouletted wares, inscribed ware with Brahmi letters, Kaolin wares and the innumerable literary references point to the role of Karur as capital of the Cheras, in the Sangam age. Among the Tamil Kings of the Sangam age, it was Chera dynasty which came into contact with the Romans on a greater scale. It is therefore of considerable interst, the recent archaeological excavations, in addition to literary reference, confirm the Roman contact with Karur, the Capital of the Cheras of Sangam age.
KODUMANAL
The third site of importance is Kodumanal, a village in modern Periyar district, about 40 kilometres from Erode. The place abounds in semi precious stones and rock-crystals. Explorations at the sites reveal that the village has been a factaory site for making beads and other object of precious and semi precious stones and crystal objects. Several hundred beads of various sizes, made of moon stone, cats-eye, rock crystal, Beryl and other stones have been found. Prismatic objects of rock crystlas used as pendents with suitable holes are also picked up in large numbers.
The exploration of the site by the Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department has brought to light black and red ware, and potsherds with Tamil Brahmi inscriptions, assignable to 1st-2nd Century A.D. The surface find includes an arretine ware and rouletted ware of Mediterranian origin, which is of considerable significance. The occurrence of Black and red ware and russet coated ware has been noticed earlier.(3) The exploration in the village revealed the existence of several Menhris and Cairns. Some of the Menhris are over 12 feet in height.
The presence of Menhris, occurrence of inscribed Black and red ware and also arretine ware and rock crystal objects prove that the site had been of great significance in the beginning of the Christian era.
It is of interest to mention that in the Sangam work, this village finds a mention as Kodumanam. Two verses in "Padirru Pattu" 67 and 74, extolling the greatness of the Chera ruler, mention this village and state that the Chera gifted jewellery of this village Kodumanam to poets. Obviously the village was famous for its jewelry even in the Sangam age and that it occupied a place of pride in the Chera Kingdom.
The Village is not far away from Karur the Capital of the Cheras, discussed earlier. Another village Padiyur' is about six miles from this village, and is already known as the main source of beryl and rock crystal objects for the Romans during the Common era. Warmington makes special mention of this site.(4) Some of Warmington's observation on Roman Contact is worth recalling.
"Romans showed a taste for excessive decoration of the fingers and by the use of gems to cover conches, garlands, armour, walls and so on. The practise of collecting gems became common during the first Century B.C. and Scaurus, Julius Ceasar, Marcellus, Maecenas, Vespasian and Hadrian were collectors. All who could afford one obtained a gem signet from the guilds of ring makers, and the gem cabinet was an essential part of every rich home. The poor used glass imitations, the rich bought the largest and rarest genuine specimens and the imperial house encouraged the new art of cameo-engraving".(5)
"The 'asteria' of India and 'Carmania' or else the 'Semi lampis' which was supposed to be found in the Euphrates, included apparently the quartz, and cats-eye which comes to Combay from near Madras, from Burma and perhaps from Malabar".(6)
"Pure crystalised silica or rock crystal which was in use in very early times was obtained in Alabanda, Uithosia, Cyprus, perhaps Red sea regions and later on the Alps "but above all others was preferred Indian Crystal, a statement of Pliny borne out by Strabo and Marital"(7).
"Of the Stones produced by oxides of metals, the hard corundums of today (Tamil Kurrandum) formed an important part of Rome's oriental trade".(8)
"The author of Periplus found sapphires at Musiris and Nelcynda only whiter, evidently all sapphires including the now scarce Indian suppliers from Salem, Malabar, the Cauvery and the upper Godavari were sent".
"Beryls were found not only in Brazil and Saxoney, but also in the Ural and Altar mountains, in Toda hills at Padiyur in Coimbatore".(9)
From the above the importance of Padiyur in Roman trade particularly the rock crystals may be understood. More than Padiyur, Kodumanal abounds in rock crystals and beryls. All the precious and semiprecious stones that played important role with the Romans as mentioned by Warmington are found in this village. The recent finds of Arretine were, inscribed ware, and other associate finds show, that Kodumanal was frequented by Roman traders and that the village was famous for its jewelry and that the Chera rulers were found of the jewelry of this village.
Thus the three sites Vasavasamudram, Karur and Kodumanal in Tamil Nadu, revealing Roman Contact, add new diamensions to our knowledge of Imperial trade in the beginning of the Common era.
REFERENCES
1. Wheeler, R. E. M., "Arikamedu, and Indo-Roman Trading Station in South India", AI, No. 2, Delhi, 1946, pp. 17 ff; Casal, J.M., Fouilles de Virampantam--Arikamedu, Paris, Imprimerie Nationale, 1949; Wheeler, R.E.M., Rome Beyond the Imperial Frontiers, Harmondsworth, 1955, ppp. 164 ff.
2. Wheeler, R.E.M., 1946, op cit., Type 74-75.
3. I.A.R., 1960-61, p. 18.
4. Warmington, E.H., The Commerce between the Roman Empire and India, Cambridge, 1948, p. 250.
5. Ibid., p. 235.
6. Ibid., p. 244.
7. Ibid., p. 245.
8. Ibid., p. 247.
9. Ibid., p. 250.