[Culture] Muziris Port

Culture

Muziris Port

Muziris Port

·        Muziris: lost Roman Port town, excavated near Pattanam, Kerala.

·        Murizirs finds mention in ancient Roman and Tamil texts.

·        Setup during Iron age, Roman trade during 1 to 4th BC

·        Traded with Alexandria (NorthAfrica)

·        Later Portuguese built St. Thomas fort in Kerala. Tipu Sultan destroyed it (1790)

·        Items found: Chera coins, pottery, Frankincense (Aromatic gum), gold filament and semi-precious stones.

·        DNA samples are being checked to find who lived here [Dravidians, European or Africans].

·        LIDAR: light detection and ranging. The Oxford Archaeologists are using this technique to map the surface of Muziris/Pattanram port.

============================================