MUZIRIS (MUSIRI)
Pattanam excavations were the first-ever multidisciplinary excavations undertaken in Kerala state.
The main objective of this excavation is to find archaeological evidence that would help to identify or locate an early urban settlement and the ancient Indo-Roman port of Muziris or Musiri on the Malabar Coast.
Key Findings
- The excavation suggests that the site was first occupied by the indigenous "Megalithic" (iron age) people, followed by the roman contact in the early historic period.
- Site was completely occupied at least from the 2nd BC to the 10th century AD.
- The maritime contacts of this region during the Early Historic period seem to be extensive.
- Found a large number of Roman amphora shreds, a few terra sigillata shreds, Sassanian, Yemenite and other west Asian Potteries.
- Proliferation of roulette ware probably made in the Bengal-Gangetic region signifies the site's importance in the pan-Indian context as well.
- Human bones, storage jars, gold ornaments, glass beads, early Chera coins, brick walls, and brick platforms, were all the important things found at the site.
