
Roman Trade Link To Muziris - Deccan Herald
July 3, 2009 at 6:30:00 PM
The article by R. Gopakumar in the Deccan Herald talks about the Muziris Roman Trade Link. Ancient writings claim that the Romans transported gold to the port of Muziris and carried back fragrant spices from the area, including pepper, sometimes known as "black gold."Nobody, however, is aware of how this renowned port vanished overnight. Fresh proof pointing to the port's existence has been found by the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR), which has been leading the excavations with assistance from a dozen institutions for the last three years.
The geoarchaeologist K P Shajan was the first to propose the theory that Muziris would have been situated in Pattanam close to Paravur on the south bank of the Periyar river. Excavations started there in 2007 with Cherian as the site's director and V Selvakumar, Shajan, and other co-directors. Several trenches were dug up and methodically explored in order to discern each layer, feature, pit, structure, or activity area based on colour, texture, and composition, several trenches were dug up and methodically explored."
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According to the findings of the excavations, the site was originally inhabited by native megalithic people, then by West Asians, and finally by Romans in the early historic period.
Kerala Tourism, clearly excited by the new initiatives, has begun the first phase of a Rs 100 crore Muziris Heritage Tourism Circuit project that comprises historic synagogues, churches, and mosques constructed over a century ago.The project is aimed at preserving historical buildings and cultural and traditional heritage on the Muziris site, covering seven panchayats and two municipalities in Ernakulam and Thrissur.