malayaalan-മലയാളൻ

Madyamam 30 2011 misuse of funds by KCHR -A G "s report

2012-01-02T06:52:00.000-08:00

Serious Misuse of Funds ,Irreregular appointments,Etc are reported by A G in the functioning of Kerala Council Of Historical Research

Muziris Heritage Binale funds suspended

2011-12-27T20:45:00.000-08:00

Funds for Muziris Binale Suspended

Muziris Binale now termed as Cochin binale is now under Governmental Enquiery .Amount set apart for the festival will be released only after investigation by the Secretary,Cultural department,Govt of KeraLa-Mathrubhoomi Daily 28-11-2011 Reports.

This Festival Is a part of MUZIRIS HERITAGE PROJECT ,of which K C H R is the Nodal Agency!

Back Ground paper submitted to Plan Consultative Committee –Sub Committee by KCHR Director reveals that Pattanam research is only a part of Muziris Heritage Project .

Intellectuals Condemn Benale Festival and Pattanam

2011-12-24T22:11:00.000-08:00

Friday, 23 December 2011

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kathakali-distortion-condemned/195127-60-116.html

Time 24-12-2011; 11.15AM

Intellectuals Condemn Benale Festival and Pattanam

Express News Service , The New Indian Express

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Bharatheeya Vichara Kendram director P Parameswaran has questioned the logic behind linking the Muziris project with the Indian edition of a foreign festival, Biennale, and criticised the vulgar portrayal of Kerala’s classical art form of Kathakali in the festival brochure.

Express, in its Kochi edition, carried a report the other day on the� controversy over the vulgar portrayal of Kathakali in the brochure which� carries the picture of a painting in which a Kathakali artiste’s embellished head is shown fixed on the body of a muscleman wearing only a loin cloth and carrying a mace in his hand.

Noted artistes such as Kalamandalam Gopi had expressed anguish and protest over the vulgar portrayal in the brochure for the Indian edition of an Italian festival, which is slated to showcase India’s rich cultural and social heritage, which will be taken around the world.

The festival, the brainchild of former minister M A Baby, is expected to attract funding amounting to Rs 100 crore of which a major portion is from the Centre and State Governments.

Responding to the news report, Parameswaran said that the shift in the interest of the stakeholders from archeological excavation to heritage� project and now to conducting a foreign festival to promote tourism was a dubious one.

“To start on an academic note, end up in heritage and tourism projects and link it with Biennale festival, the entire issue is surrounded by a kind of mystery. What I don’t understand is how does Pattanam excavation connected to Biennale, an Italian festival,’’ he said.

A foreign festival, which is in no way connected to the excavation, should not be supported by the government. Now, the brochure reveals what they are aimed at. In the name of culture, in fact, they are denigrating the culture, Parameswaran said.

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Attempt to Transform Adulterated Archaeology at Pattanam into Tourism and Heritage Site of St' Thomas

Archaeologists Respond-
Report by Times of India

Muziris does not need a tourism tag'
Dec 11, 2011, 02.24AM IST [ Gayathri Sasibhushan ]

KOCHI: The focus of the Muziris project is shifting towards tourism
from the archaeological importance of the findings of the excavation
done at a site, according to archaeology experts. On the sidelines of
an international seminar at Kottappuram on Saturday, many experts said
that the project should be given its due archaeological importance.

The excavation at the Muziris heritage site should have been modelled
after the Anuradhapura excavation project in Sri Lanka, K Krishnan, a
faculty member of archaeology at the University of Baroda, said. The
department of archaeology was part of the of the excavation team at
Anuradhapura, which was at present a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Krishnan said that the importance of Muziris was shifting towards
tourism from the archaeological importance of the findings.

A scholar in the field of geological-archaeology, Krishnan suggested a
comprehensive study technique such as the Hinterland transect survey
for further Kottapuram excavations. "In simple language, this would
mean a more intensive field work with Arcgis software-enabled
equipment, which is an expensive and labour-intensive alternative to
what is being done now," he said.

The shards of pottery and celadon found at the Kottappuram fort were
signs of a much earlier settlement of Portuguese than 1509, said Prof
Doutor Vitor Rodriguez. Doutor, an expert on the Portuguese forts in
south India, said, "Kottappuram will have more relics because the
strategic position of the fort in relation to the ancient Spice route
and further excavations will definitely give us more evidence."

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Monday, 5 December 2011

The International Conspiracy for Establishing Pattanam as St' Thomas site

median.hypotheses.org

Accession date and time 06-12-2011

Roberta Tomber Stated that St' Thomas Landed at Pattanam.

Shinu Abraham is consultant -Knanaya Nazrene Christian Academy at Pattanam

K.P.Shajan and V.Selvakumar Presented Papers on Pattanam for Syro-Malabar Church, Kochi

The International Conspiracy for Establishing Pattanam as St' Thomas Site

Migration, Trade and Peoples

Publication en ligne de la Royal Asiatic Society :
Willis M. (ed.), Migration, Trade and Peoples : European Association of South Asian Archaeologists. Proceedings of the eighteenth congress, London, 2005, London : The Br itish Association for South Asian Studies, The British Academy, 2009.

Sommaire

Foreword / Michael Willis. iii

PART 1: INDIAN OCEAN COMMERCE AND THE ARCHAELOGY OF WESTERN INDIA. 1
Editors: Roberta Tomber, Lucy Blue, Shinu Abraham

Preface. 2

- Boats, Routes and Sailing Conditions of Indo-Roman Trade / Lucy Blue. 3

- Strategies for Surface Documentation at the Early Historic site of Pattanam, Kerala: the Malabar Region Archaelogical Survey / Shinu A. Abraham. 14

- Archaeological investigations at Pattanam, Kerala: New Evidence for the Location of Ancient Muziris / V. Selvakumar, K.P. Shajan and Roberta Tomber. 29

- Beyond Western India: the Evidence from Imported Amphorae / Roberta Tomber. 4

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MGS comments on Pattanam Excavations

2011-11-20T18:11:00.000-08:00

MGS cmments on pattanam excavation

2011-11-20T04:26:00.000-08:00

Friday, 18 November 2011

National Archaeological Meet-Prof MGS Asks KCHR to Hand Over Pattanam to ASI---P.J.Cherian Vehemently Criticized by Leading Archaeologists

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/kchr-asked-to-hand-over-pattanam-excavation/333792.html

Express News Service

Last Updated : 16 Nov 2011 12:57:31 PM IST

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: M G S Narayanan, noted historian and Director General of the Centre for Heritage Studies has called upon the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) to hand over the excavation activity, being carried out at Pattanam, to the Archeological Survey of India (ASI).Presiding over the annual meet of the Archeologists held here the other day, he said that the KCHR had not been able to make considerable progress in the excavation so far. He said that the ASI, which is the representative body of the Archeologists in the country, had only the expertise to take up such a mammoth task and conduct it in a scientific manner.He expressed his displeasure over the KCHR’s decision to black out the media about the ‘meet’ fearing criticism from the archeologists across the country. The organisers in the State had neither invited the media nor given the details to it. When KCHR chairman P J Cherian presented the paper on Pattanam excavation, it invited severe criticism from eminent archeologists.The ASI, Indian Society for Prehistoric and Quaternary Studies and the Indian History and cultural Society jointly organised the meet. ASI Additional Director General Dr B R Mony, former deputy additional director general Dr K N Deekshith and Additional Chief Secretary K Jayakumar were present. Noted archeologist A Sundaraiah was honoured at the function.

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Wednesday, 16 November 2011

P.J.Cherian and Pattanam -The Integrity of excavations questioned by Indian Archaeologists at three day national conference at Thiruvananthapuram

At Thiruvananthapuram , on 11th November 2011 Prof MGS Narayanan in his presidential address at the annual conference of the Indian Archaeological Society, Indian Society for Prehistoric and Quaternary Studies and Indian History and Culture Society launched a scathing attack on Pattanam excavations and requested the Archaeological Survey of India to undertake the site.On 12th November 2011 eminent archaeologists questioned the integrity of Pattanam excavations. After P.J.Cherian presented his paper on Pattanam at the Indian Archaeological Society Session it was severely criticized. Prof A.Sundara leading archaeologist from Karnataka pointed out that there are no major structural remains at the site. He asked P.J.Cherian to precisely record and classify antiquities from each trench rather than pooling them together and interpreting them. Prof. Sundara told Cherian that such approaches are not adopted in field archaeology since cultural material from each trench has its validity. Prof .Sundara also pointed out that the claims of structural remains from Pattanam is questionable. Dr. K.N.Dikshit former Joint Director General of Archaeological Survey of India and Secretary of Indian Archaeological Society questioned the claims of P.J.Cherian that Historical Period at Pattanam goes around 1000 BC. K.N. Dikshit asked Cherian to be cautious and review such claims since Historical Period in Peninsular India has not gone beyond 200-300BC

Other archaeologists questioned Cherians claims of Pattanam as an urban site since nothing was seen in empty trenches when they visited Pattanam . To them Cherian told that he has left the site and structures in the trenches were carried away by local people for which he is not responsible.When he was again asked to clear as to how residential areas, streets , warehouses and wharfs can be carried away by people Cherian was silent and stood isolated.

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Sunday, 13 November 2011

Pattanam and P.J.Cherian: Prof. MGS Narayanan Launches Scathing Attack on Pattanam Ideology

Professor MGS Narayanan Former Chairman of ICHR and currently Director General of Centre For Heritage Studies, Thrippunithura, Kerala launched a scathing attack on Pattanam archaeological excavations and KCHR. He was delivering the Presidential address of the National Conference of three archaeological socities- The Indian Archaeological Society, Indian Society for Prehistoric and Quaternary Studies and Indian History and Culture Society on 11th November 2011 at Mar Gregorious Renewal Centre, Nalanchira Thiruvananthapuram.. Professor MGS Narayanan urged the Archaeological Survey of India to take up Pattanam excavations.The entire archaeological community from all over India numbering 200 and represented by the three socities applauded the suggestions put forward by MGS. Narayanan.Dr. K.N.Dikshit, fSecretary of Indian Archaeological Society and former Deputy Director General of Archaeological Survey of India, Dr. B.R.Mani, currently Additional Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, Professor P.K.Thomas and Professor Pramod Joglekar of Indian Society for Prehistoric and Quaternary Studies and Professor Vandana Kaushik and Professor Ashalatha Joshi of Indian History and Culture Society were present on the occasion.

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Monday, 7 November 2011

P.J.Cherian Dupes Press and Southern Naval Command.

To Press P.J.Cherian States He Discovered the Oldest Pier in the World. To Southern Naval Command He is Silent on Pier and Wharf and States on the Canoe at Pattanam.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-268270437.html
Accession Date and Time 08-11-2011; 8.15 AM
KOCHI, Sept. 29 -- The National Maritime Foundation (NMF) has honoured the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) with its excellence award.
KCHR Director P J Cherian received the award, consisting of a plaque and citation, from Vice-Admiral K N Sushil, flag officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command, at a function organised at the Naval Base. . J Cherian said that Pattanam excavations have unearthed the oldest ever pier in the world.sought the assistance of all in taking the Muziris Project forward and acknowledged the contributions of the Southern Naval Command in the underwater mapping of the area.

http://indiannavy.nic.in/PRel_110928_MuzirisProjectAward.pdf
Accession Date and Time 08-11-2011; 8.15 AM
National Maritime Foundation (NMF) has awarded the Excellence Award to
the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR). The award consisting of a plaque
and citation was accepted by Dr PJ Cherian, Director of KCHR from Vice Admiral KN
Sushil, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Southern Naval Command at an
impressive ceremony at the Southern Naval Command Officers Mess late evening
yesterday. .P Dr PJ Cherian in his acceptance speech informed the audience that the
Pattanam canoe could be one of the oldest found in an archaeological context in
South Asia.

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With Piracy Photos P.J.Cherian Argues Pattanam is Ancient Muziris

http://www.basas.org.uk/groups/ports.htm

Accession Date and Time 08-11-2011; 8.00AM

RESEARCH GROUPS

BACK

Ports and Indian Ocean Exchanges

Convenors: Dr R Tomber (British Museum, London, UK) & Prof PJ Cherian (Kerala Council for Historical Research, Trivandrum, India)
This international research group concentrates on Indian Ocean exchange of the Early Historic and Medieval periods, particularly seen through its ports, and the goods and ideas exchanged between them.
The convergence of textual and archaeological evidence during the Early Historic makes it and subsequent periods especially amenable to the study of exchange. Active archaeological research throughout the rim of the Indian Ocean is providing new finds and stimulating a growing interest in the subject. Informed speculation on the global nature of the economies of these periods can only now be attempted on the strength of this new information regarding the connections, exchanges and interaction among the different ethnic groups, trade sites and partners from different social and political systems.

Tourism project at pattanam K N Panicker's Role

2011-11-03T21:48:00.000-07:00

K N Panicker suggested Muziris Heritage Project to state Government!!!

General, Muziris Project

The Muziris Heritage Project- News

Authored by NSC- Admin on Sunday, April 8, 2007 17:05 - 9 Comments

You were searching for "muziris heritage site". See posts relating to your search »

The Muziris Heritage Project

The Muziris Heritage Project is a novel attempt at the behest of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Govt of Kerala. It aims at retrieving the historical heritage of the Kodungallur-Paravur region and plans a combination of heritage management initiatives in its restoration, conservation and access to the public. KCHR, identified as the nodal agency for Muziris Heritage Project provides academic guidance and undertakes archaeological / historical research in the region. KCHR Chairman Dr. K.N.Panikkar submitted a concept note on Muziris Heritage Project pointing out the possibilities and potential of the proposal.¹

Muziris muziris muziris muziris Pattanam area is MUZIRIS.700entries.....................

2011-11-03T21:05:00.000-07:00

Please go through the website of Muziris heritage Project.there are 700 entries .Each article says that PATTANAM and surroundings are the early Muziris area .This false propaganda is based on the direct and indirect suggestions made by Pattanam excavation team headed by P J Cheriyan and KCHR.This FALSE propaganda can mint money

NowArchaeology and History is buried under Falsification of History. What are the Findigs to establishPattanam is Muziris?
Nothing more is there to establish Pattanam is Musiris

All these items are digged out -they report
How can we believe it?
the abandoned pits! in the next report
They are always giving False propaganda.Are these artifacts were brought from some where else?
"Many important finds were obtained like human bones, storage jars, a gold ornament, glass beads, stone beads, utilitarian objects made of stone, copper and iron, typical pottery, early Chera coins, brick wall, brick platform, ring well, wharf with bollards, and a six meter long wooden canoe parallel to the wharf structure about 2.5 m. below surface level"

MuzirisHeritageProject -Name used for collection of fundsfor Excavation expences says KCHR!!!!

2011-11-03T07:59:00.000-07:00

Should tourism bury history?

DECCAN CHRONICLE -2-11-2011

The historical excavation project at Pattanam and Kodungalloor and the state tourism department's role in it, is proving to be a fiercely contentious issue.

Called the Muziris Heritage Tourism Project, the bone of contention is the very name of the project. Not only is it not clear that present day Pattanam is in fact the 3000-year-old port of Muziris, but turning it into a tourism project has raised the hackles of many historians who believe historical excavations and tourism should not be mixed.

Excavation at the two sites has been going on for the past five years. Remnants of amphora and other pottery pieces dating to the Roman, Parthian and Sassanian dynasties as well as some human skeletons have been recovered. Forty lakh artifacts, a majority of them belonging to the 15th century, have also been recovered.

The excavation is being handled by the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR), a government body, and some historians say that KCHR does not have the expertise to handle such an important project and it should be handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India.

The Muziris Heritage Tourism Project website goes one step further and establishes that “present Kodungallur had been named Mahodayapuram, Makothevarpattanam Muyirikkodu and Muziris by the Greeks and Romans, Shingly by the Jews, Cranganore by the Portuguese.“

“The present day Kodungallur, situated 30 km north of Cochin and believed to be Muziris of the past, is said to have been first occupied around 1,000 BC and continued to be active till the 13th century AD.”

The website further says: “The prosperous port of Muziris (Muziris Heritage Tour), at the mouth of the Periyar, overlooking the Arabian Sea was engulfed and silted over by the flooding of the river (in 1341), leaving its actual site to conjecture. The excavations (Muziris Heritage Excavations) by the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) in 2007 and 2008 unearthed the archaeological and historical evidence which confirmed its location.”

Prominent historian M.G.S. Narayan, questioning the premise that Pattanam is Muziris, says that the KCHR is making tall claims. “There are no archaeologists in the current team except Dr Selva Kumar of Tanjavur Tamil University. There is a hurry to establish that Pattanam is Muziris which is not correct. I suspect there was a politically corrupt design involving the previous LDF government behind the project,” he said.

He, however, added that so far the project has not done any damage, but the Archaeological Survey of India is the competent body to guide the project.

“In the first place Dr Cheriyan, who is the director of KCHR and who is controlling the present excavation, is not an archaeologist. Moreover, at this stage tourism should not be brought into the picture,” he said.

“There is an attempt to establish that Muziris was a Roman colony and had interactions with different nations at different times and hence what evolved was multi-culturalism. They are trying to showcase it as a tourism object. They mean to say that Kodungallur didn’t have a culture of its own,” says K. Satheesh Chandran, co-ordinator of Socio-Cultural and Development Studies, an NGO based in Kochi.

Unmindful of such criticism, the State Government is going ahead with the Muziris project and plans to inaugurate the first phase next April.

Tourism Minister A.P. Anilkumar said that the State Government proposes to showcase this unique project before the ambassadors of various nations in New Delhi in the immediate future.

Prof K.N. Panikkar, chairman of KCHR, said that the tourism component has been included in the project to raise money for it.

He also said that KCHR has not come to any conclusion that Pattanam is Muziris. He said that he stands by his comments two years ago that he was not happy about naming the project the Muziris Heritage Tourism Project.

He said he had expressed his concern that tourism should not be merged with historical heritage. Panicker had said then that “tourism as a possible source of revenue can be disastrous for the culture of a place.”

Director of the project and of KCHR, Prof P.J. Cherian, says there is an attempt to target him saying that he was not an archaeologist.

“I don't know what kind of expertise they mean. Very scientific work is going on at Pattanam. Such work has not been undertaken since 1946. This could be a knowledge-based tourism project,” he said.

Controversies apart, how to raise funds for an archaeological project is a key problem but showcasing it as a tourism landmark even before the artifacts are arranged, raises several questions.

ASI urged to explore Pattanam

2011-10-22T04:05:00.000-07:00

Today's Paper » NATIONAL

KOCHI, October 22, 2011

ASI urged to explore Pattanam

K.P.M. Basheer

Share · print · T+

Outcome “not conclusive”

Suspecting a hidden agenda in the archaeological exploration at Pattanam by the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR), a group of historians, writers and cultural activists has urged the Chief Minister to ask the Archaeological Survey of India to take over the digs.

A memorandum, signed by M.G. Sasibhooshan, N.M. Namboodiri, P.K. Gopi, Velayudhan Panikkassery and 18 others, also wanted the current KCHR reconstituted and the Muziris Heritage Project renamed as Kodungalloor Heritage Project and it be entrusted to qualified and committed scholars.

The memorandum signers contended that it had not yet been conclusively established that Pattanam was the ancient port of Muziris. But, the KCHR had gone around claiming that Pattanam was the ancient Muziris, the Roman trading centre on the Malabar Coast. KCHR's motive behind “imposing this on the public” was suspicious.

The signers noted that some of the recently published books had blindly referred to Pattanam as Muziris on the authority of the KCHR. This, according to the memorandum, questioned the credibility of the KCHR. It also alleged that “under the cover of discovering and preserving the heritage of Kodungalloor,' the Muziris Heritage Project was trying to prove that Kodungalloor was the colony of ancient maritime powers such as Rome.

‘Not conclusive'

P.K. Gopi, former registrar of the Centre for Heritage Studies, who headed the trial digging in Pattanam in 2004, told The Hindu that even after four years of excavation, the KCHR team could not conclusively prove that Pattanam was Muziris. With the limited material surfaced from the digging, the KCHR had jumped into a conclusion. A series of scientific studies, followed by peer reviews, should have been carried out before announcing the location of Muziris (a 2000-year-old port which is believed to have been located near Kodungalloor and which is said to have gone under sea following a huge flood in the Periyar in the 14th century), Mr. Gopi said. Claiming that an underground structure and a canoe found at Pattanam constituted the remains of the wharf at Muziris was inappropriate. Evidence that could stand rigorous scientific tests was necessary to make a conclusion about such an important ancient port as Muziris, he said. Satheesh Chandran, coordinator, Centre for Socio Cultural and Development Studies, one of the signers, told The Hindu that the KCHR team had approached the Pattanam digging with a pre-conditioned idea. He suspected the expertise of the digging team as the KCHR had no previous experience of archaeological excavation. It also not made use of the expertise of Kerala ancient history experts and also had not made marine archaeological research.

· Group of historians want revamp of KCHR

· ‘Rename project as Kodungalloor Heritage Project'

Pattanam is identified as Muziris by KCHR: Team reports 2011 to ASI

2011-10-12T07:55:00.000-07:00

The latest official report is seen in the Research papers presented in a an International conference convened at COLOMBO to discuss the findings of Pattanam excavations in 2011-This is a report of

the multi-disciplinary excavation conducted as part of the Muziris Heritage Project by the

Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR), in collaboration with the Archaeological

Survey of India (ASI) and various institutes and universities inside and outside the nation

Abstracts - Colombo conference papers on Pattanam

Publications related to Pattanam Research

ABSTRACT OF RESEARCH PAPERS

Conference of the International Association for Asian Heritage, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Pattanam research team attended the first conference of the International

Association for Asian Heritage during the second week of April 2011 at

Colombo, Sri Lanka and presented sixteen papers in a session on Pattanam

excavations and Indian Ocean exchanges. The team also undertook study tours

to some important archaeological sites of Sri Lanka.

The maritime spice route that linked peninsular India with

West Asia, Red Sea and Mediterranean rims; new

archaeological evidence from Pattanam (Muziris)

P.J. Cherian# , K.P. Shajan# , V. Selvakumar+ , M. Nambirajan^ , K. Rajan* , Preeta Nayar#

# Kerala Council for Historical Research + Tamil University, ^ Archaeological Survey of India,

Thrissur Circle , * Pondicherry Universitya)

To discuss the evidence on the Early Historic exchanges between India and the

Mediterranean world, with Muziris and Berenike ports as reference points

The Industrial Context of Pattanam and Trench PT XVI, 2010

Season

Dineesh Krishnan P J Cherian

Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR)

Pattanam site today is widely recognized as one of the major archaeological sites in South

Asia. The site poses number of challenges in understanding the complexities of life in an

ancient port site, generally agreed to be the legendary port of Muziris.

Local pottery from Pattanam, Kerala: A report of the 2007

excavations

V. Selvakumar+ , P.J. Cherian# , K.P. Shajan#

+ Tamil University, # Kerala Council of Historical Research

Pattanam is an archaeological site located in the Periyar delta of Kerala. This site has

evidence for occupation from the Iron Age to the Late Medieval period spanning several

hundreds of years. The most important cultural period represented at the site is the Early

Historic, when the Indian Ocean trade and exchange were very active in the southern part

of India. Until the discovery of this site, the port of ancient Muziris was considered to be

at Kodungallur. The identification of the site through the initial surveys of K.P.Shajan

and later joint work by the authors (Shajan et al 2004, Selvakumar et al. 2005)

Papers presented in the Colombo Conference

1P K Vijimol P J Cherian

2K. Vasudevan*, P. J. Cherian*, V Selvakumar+ , K. Ramia*

3V. Selvakumar+ , P.J. Cherian# , K.P. Shajan

4Sarathchandrababu*, P J Cherian* and V Selvakumar

5KP Rajesh PJ Cherian

6KK.Rajan*, P.J.Cherian K.P. Shajan*, P. J. Cherian* , V. Selvakumar

7Preeta Nayar P J Cherian

8Prasanth M.S* P J Cherian+

9Dr.M.Nambirajan* , Dr.P.J.Cherian#

10Madhavi Kunneriath PJ Cherian

11Jaseera Majeed*, PJ Cherian*, V. Selvakumar+ , K. Remia*

12Dineesh Krishnan P J Cherian

13Deepak P_ Salil GK† PJ Cherian‡

14PJ Cherian*, V Selvakumar,+ K P Shajan*

15.J. Cherian# , K.P. Shajan# , V. Selvakumar+ , M. Nambirajan^ , K. Rajan* , Preeta Nayar#.J. 16Cherian# , K.P. Shajan# , V. Selvakumar+ , M. Nambirajan^ , K. Rajan* , Preeta Nayar#

Publications / Essays related to Pattanam Archeological Research

Out of 33 papers only 4 of themare written by others-28 are written by PJ Cheriyan KCHR Team Members

1. Cherian P. J., "Archaeology of Death: The Urn Burials of the Periyar Belt", Discourse(s),

Journal for Multi-Disciplinary Studies Vol 1, U C College Publication, Alwaye, 1998, pp 101-

113

2. Shajan K. P., Tomber R., Selvakumar V., and Cherian P. J., "Locating the ancient port of

Muziris: Fresh findings from Pattanam", Journal of Roman Archaeology, Vol. 17, New Delhi,

2004, pp 312-320.

3. Selvakumar V., Gopi P. K. & Shajan K.P., "Trial Excavation at Pattanam: a Preliminary

Report", Journal of the Centre for Heritage Studies Vol 2, Thripunithura, 2005, pp 57-66

4. Shajan K. P., Cherian P. J., Selvakumar V., "Pattanam Muziris Thanneyo?’’(Mal), AdhAram, A

Journal for Kerala Archaeology and History Vol. I, Keraleeya Purathatva Samiti, M G

University, Kottayam, 2006, pp 50-59

5. Cherian P. J., Selvakumar V., Shajan K. P., "Evidence for the ancient port of Muziri at

Pattanam, Kerala" in Chemmozhi, a Quarterly Newsletter from Center of Excellence for

Classical Tamil, Vol.2, Number 1, Chennai, October- December, 2007, pp 26-27

6. Shajan K. P., Selvakumar V., "Pattanam: the first Iron Age early historic settlement of

Kerala", "Recent Archaeological Excavations at Pattanam, Kerala", in Manmathan, M R, (ed),

Archaeology in Kerala: Past and Present, Kozhikkode, 2007, Pp 30-45

7. Cherian P. J., Selvakumar V. and Shajan K. P., ’Pattanam in the maritime History of South

West India’ Proceedings of the International Seminar on Marine Archaeology, Indian Navy and

ASI, New Delhi 2007

8. Cherian P. J., ""Puravasthupadanam Oru Pichaveppinde Ormakuruppu’’(Mal.), Suvarna

Keralam Souvenir, Kerala University Publication, Thiruvananthapuram, 2006, pp 170 - 174

9. Cherian P. J., Shajan K. P., Selvakumar V., "Charithraranbhakaalathe Samskarika

Vinimayangalude Jeevithamudragal’’ (Mal.), Janapadam, (Govt. of Kerala Publication),

Thiruvananthapuram, October 2008, pp. 24 - 27

10. Cherian P. J., Selvakumar V., Shajan K. P., "The Muziris Heritage Project: Excavations at

Pattanam-2007" in Sunil Gupta (Ed), Journal of Indian Ocean Archaeology, November, 2007,

New Delhi, 2008, pp 1-10

11. Cherian P. J., "The Muziris Heritage Project and the Archaeological Research at Pattanam:

An Overview", The Living Dead and the Lost Knowledge, Department of Archaeology,

Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 2008 , pp 5 - 20

12. Selvakumar V., "Indo Roman Trade and Internal Exchange Systems of Ancient Tamil

Country", The Living Dead and the Lost Knowledge, Department of Archaeology, Government

of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 2008 , pp 21 - 28

13. Shajan K. P., "Evolution of Central Coast and the formation of Pattanam : A Geoarchaeological

study", The Living Dead and the Lost Knowledge, Department of Archaeology,

Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 2008 , pp 29 - 34

14. Raghava Varier M. R., "Graffiti and Brahmi letters from Pattanam: A note on continuity and

change in the art of writing", The Living Dead and the Lost Knowledge, Department of

Archaeology, Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 2008 , pp 35 - 36

15. Tomber R., "The imported pottery at Pattanam: External contacts and trading partners", The

Living Dead and the Lost Knowledge, Department of Archaeology, Government of Kerala,

Thiruvananthapuram, 2008 , pp 37 - 38

16. Steve Sidebotham E., "The Red Sea port of Berenike : Stopover emporium between the

Mediterranean and Malabar coasts", The Living Dead and the Lost Knowledge, Department of

Archaeology, Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 2008 , pp 39 -40

17. Federico De Romanis, "Muziris Trade in the Roman Economy", The Living Dead and the Lost

Knowledge, Department of Archaeology, Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 2008 , pp 41

- 43

18. Sunil Gupta, "Beyond Roman Trade: The Periplus as an Indian Ocean Document", The Living

Dead and the Lost Knowledge, Department of Archaeology, Government of Kerala,

Thiruvananthapuram, 2008 , pp 44 - 46

19. Cherian P. J., Tilok Thakuria, Mohanty R. K., Selvakumar V., Shajan K. P., "Manufacturing of

Stone Ornaments at Pattanam, Kerala : a Preliminary Study from 2007 Excavations", National

Seminar on Buddhism in Orissa & Joint Annual Conference, Dept. of Culture, Govt. of Orissa

20. Cherian P. J., Raviprasad, G. V., Koushik Datta, Dinesh Kr Ray, Selvakumar, V, and Shajan,KP,

"Chronology of Pattanam: a multi-cultural port site on the Malabar coast", in Current Science,

Vol.97, No 2, Bangalore, July 2009, pp 236-240

21. Cherian P. J., "Pattanam in Cochin as a potential world heritage site" in Sankaran Kutty Nair, T P

(ed), India Yesterday and Today (A festschrift for Padmabhooshan Prof. Alappat Sreedhara Menon),

Thiruvananthapuram, 2009, pp 349-365

22. Cherian P. J., "Pattanaparryaveshanam" (Mal.), Thaliru, Balasahitya Institute,

Thiruvananthapuram, July 2009, pp. 28 - 34.

23. Cherian P. J., "The Exchanges between the Early Historic Ports on the Malabar Coast and the

Red Sea Port of Berenike", Proceedings of the Thirtieth Annual Seminar-Maritime History Society,

Mumbai, 2009, pp 65 -79

24. Cherian P. J., Selvakumar V., Shajan K. P., "Maritime traditions of the Malabar coast and the

findings of Pattanam excavations- 2007", Paddayya K et al (Ed.), Recent Research Trends in South

Asian Archaeology, (Prof. H D Sankalia birth centenary, 2007 seminar proceedings), Pune, 2009, pp

321 - 331

25. Cherian P. J., Selvakumar V., Shajan K. P., Interim Report of Pattanam Excavations 2007 KCHR

Publication, Thiruvananthapuram, 2007

26. Cherian P. J., Rajan K., Selvakumar V., Shajan K. P., Interim Report of Pattanam Excavations

2008, KCHR Publication, Thiruvananthapuram, 2008

27. Cherian P. J., Rajan K., Selvakumar V., Shajan K. P., Interim Report of Pattanam Excavations

2009, KCHR Publication, Thiruvananthapuram, 2009

28. Cherian P. J., Nambirajan M., Rajan K., Selvakumar V., Shajan K. P., Interim Report of Pattanam

Excavations 2010, KCHR Publication, Thiruvananthapuram, 2010

29. Cherian P. J., "Pattanam Puravastushasthra Gaveshanathinde Shasthragathiyum Pradhaanyavum’’

(Mal.), Sasthragadhi, Calicut, February 2010, pp. 11- 19

30. Cherian P. J., ""Realising the Real’’, Kerala Calling, (Kerala Govt. Publication),

Thiruvananthapuram, July 2010, pp. 26 - 29

31. Cherian P. J., Meenakshi C. S., "Charithrathilekkulla Pattanapravesham’’ (Mal.), Mathrubhumi

Weekly, Calicut, September 2010, pp 26 -33

32. Pattanam Excavation Manual, KCHR Publication, Thiruvananthapuram, 2007 & 2008 CheriyanPJ

33. Cherian P. J., "Pattanam: Pilgrimage Cultural’’, Kerala Calling, (Kerala Govt. Publication),

Thiruvananthapuram, January 2011, pp. 14 - 17

(PDF versions of the documents are available on request)

__________________________________________________________________________

“Interestingly, the dig did not unearth any structural remnants that match the magnitude of antiquities The absence of major structures is an intriguing aspect” Dr PJ Cheriyan,Report 2011

_______________________________

"Entire Kerala coast is Muziriz"-Say'sMuziris project DirectorP J Cheriyan

2011-10-08T00:18:00.001-07:00

Cherian, however, still shies from admitting that the site is indeed Muziris or Muchiripattanam:

This very interesting interpretation is to escape from the controversy related to the present identification Pattanam as the early port Muziris by Cheriyan and Team . Now we have to investigate Entire coast of kerala for locating Muziris.
Please wait for the next annoucements!!!!!

“Muziris could be one port or several. It could be the entire Kerala coast. It would require much deeper research and evidence to establish it.”22 -6-2011

ഡൊ:ചെറിയാനും സംഘവും വളരെ കാലമായി പട്ടണമാണു മുസിരിസ് എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു ഉറപ്പിക്കാന്‍ നോ‍ക്കുന്നു.ഇതിനു തക്കതെളിവുകള്‍ ഇതുവരെ കിട്ടിയിട്ടുമില്ല.500 കോടി രൂപവരെ ടൂറിസം അടിസ്ത്ഥാനമാക്കിയുള്ള പുരാഖനനത്തിനു അവിടെ വേണ്ടി വരും എന്നാണു കണക്ക്.ഈ പശ്ചാത്തലത്തിലാണു വേണ്ടത്ത്ര തെളിവില്ലാതെ ലോകം മുഴുവനുള്ള മാദ്ധ്യമങ്ങളില്‍ മുസിരിസ് കണ്ടെത്തി എന്നു പ്രചരിപ്പിക്കുന്നത്.കണ്ടെത്തുന്നതു നല്ലതാണു.കേരളത്തിനു അഭിമാനിക്കാം.
ഈ വിധത്തിലുള്ള അടിസ്ത്ഥാനരഹിതമായ പ്രചരണമാണു എതിറ്ക്കപ്പെടുന്നതു. ഈ പശ്ച്ചാത്തലത്തിലാണു പി ജെ ചെറിയാന്റെ ഇപ്പോഴത്തെ പ്രസ്ത്താവനശ്രദ്ധിക്കേണ്ടതു.ഒരു കേരളതീരം മുഴുവനുമായിരിക്കാം മുസിരിസ് എന്നു ഒരു മുഴം നീട്ടി ഒരേറു.!!!പക്ഷേ ഇതൊരു പുരാവസ്ത്തുഗവേഷകന്‍ പറയുമോ?

Dr. PJ Cherian, Director, Kerala Council of Historical Research Presented the paper titled

"The Impact of Recent Archeological Discoveries in the ancient Muziris on the

Historiography of the Establishment of Christianity in Kerala"

12.30 pm Discussion
01.15 pm Lunch
Dr CHERIYAN
presented a paper on "MUZIRIS" in a SEMINAR conducted in BOMBAY on 28-July 2011
39TH LRC SEMINAR – DIOCESE OF KALYAN 29-31 JULY 2011
AT HOPE CENTER, AMBOLI, ANDHERI (WEST), MUMBAI
PROGRAMME
28 July 2011 Thursday
Dr Cheriyan and Dr Shajan say even now that they never Identified PaTTanam as ancient port city MUZIRIS!

Dissolve KCHR Take over Pattanam excavation by ASI Placed comment in Feb 2011 in my Twitter that there are violations of research ethics in pattanam

2011-08-28T23:28:00.001-07:00

I placed a comment in Feb 2011 in my Twitter that there are violations of research ethics in the Pattanam excavation headed by KCHR, Trivandrum... Later in April and May 2011 I have published Copies of the Orders received by Centre for Heritage studies Hill palace Thrippunitthura Ernakulam and the report submitted by P K Gopi,Registrar CHS to Archaeological survey of India ,in my Blog” malayaalan-malayaalanblogspot.com”and in my web www.malabarandkeralastudies.net .

You may kindly go through this site to evaluate my academic /and research works also.

In my academic life I have seen various kinds of Violation of research Ethics .There are academicians and researchers who have no intellectual honesty. I used to fight against such

Tendencies in research activities.

The present issue is one of the best examples of Intellectual Dishonesty, Violation of ethics of research, violation of Govt: rules related to Archaeological excavations, Suppression of facts, giving misinformation’s to academic and public world Etc related to a research work in an Area of very high Archaeological potential. Please see my opinions.

With regards

Dr N M Nampoothiri 27/8/2011

Bring control of Pattanam Excavation under Archaeological Survey of India

Dr N M NAMPOOTHIRI

1. A S I must take up the Complete charge of Excavations at PaTTaNam,Kerala

2 KCHR is to be removed from the responsibility of pattanam research and it must be dissolved.

3Action must be taken against the present Director for the violation of the existing laws of the land and propagating religious Fanaticism..

4 Rename the present Excavation to” KODUNGALLUR EXCAVATIONS.”

5 Rename the Muziris Heritage project as Kodungallur Heritage Project.

Initially The Excavation at paTTanam was a research project done by CHS. The Registrar of CHS submitted a project to Archaeological survey of India in April 2003 and got sanction on 1/3/2004 to do primary digging at Pattanam. P K Gopi, was the director of the excavation. Dr Selvakumar and Jenny peter were the Co directors. On April 22, 23,and 24 -2011 primary trenches were taken and artifacts were collected .The registrar submitted a detailed scientific report to ASI and the report was published in the Journal of CHS in 2005. (8 pages. See my blog) The report was the first of its kind in Kerala archaeology and a breakthrough in Cranganuur excavations.

During 1996 to 2004 this Selvakumar and another researcher K P Shajan were doing Exploration and Excavations in Cranganuur area on both banks of river Periyar. Nearly 40 places were Excavated by them and many artifacts were collected and transferred them to Union Christian College Alwaye in 1998. Dr P J Cheriyan ,the present Director of KCHR was a member of these activities; he was a lecturer in History in the U C College. at that time

The team Dr. Cheryan, Dr. Selvakumar, and K P Shajan never mention the primary digging done by CHS or the detailed report .Even in the reports of KCHR, the pioneering work of GREAT importance is not mentioned in the proper way .The new findings of KCHR are not much compared to CHS findings.

The KCHR team is misinforming the academic world that the pioneering works are done by them. Actually what happened was that Cheriyan, Selvakumar and Shajan gradually taken up the research project to KCHR even at the time of the primary trenching in 2004.Selvan and Shajan were associated with CHS and KCHR at the same time .KCHR is a Trust which is working on Govt grants. CHS is a Govt institution to do such works. There is no need to criticize the starting of a new project by KCHR.

The Work of CHS was headed by P K Gopi and not by Shajan etc. KCHR made only a passing remark on this excavation report. In their “muziris heritage project- Pattanam Heritage project -2008’ a report circulated, there is no reference of the crucial findings of CHS .It starts with excavations of 2007.Photographs of Chera Coins and other artifacts are given in this report but the findings of CHS is not even mentioned The CHS collected the Amphora pieces Beads of various kinds, precious stones rouletted wares and Chera Coins. They reported about a ring well, bricks and brick wall. KCHR kept silence about P K GOPI, the Director of Excavations or these crucial findings. It is a suppression of facts...

Shajan conducted many excavations in this archaeologically potential areas and shifted artifacts to UC College Alwye Shajan in his Phd thesis says that antiquities collected through excavation from pattanam and other areas were handed over to U C College cultural study centre.

“Archaeological survey has been carried out in order to find past cultural remains in the study area. Archaeological objects and pottery of various cultures were collected from a number of sites in the coastal areas of Thrissur and Ernakulum dt. Even though no systematic archaeological excavation was conducted in this regard, exploration and trial trenching have been carried out to recover archaeological objects. The collected materials are now kept in the archaeological museum, centre for cultural and ecological studies Union Christian College Alwaye

Dr Cheriyan was working there at that time.

Shajan conducted exhibition of these items on 23 -11-2003 and later announced that the team almost located the port MUZIRIS. In March 2011 CHS obtained permission to conduct Excavations. On March 23 and 28 Shajan met the media and told them that Hunting for Muziris is almost successful. Later in 2006 Shajan and Mr Selvakumar announced through BBC that

“They placed the ancient port as having existed where the small town of Pattanam now stands. The team believes Pattanam as the place where Muziris once stood.” Shajan said ”We believe it could be Muziris.”

On 23 march 2004(one month before the starting of excavation by CHS), Shajan conducted an exhibition at Trivandrum with the help of KCHR. The media report goes thus:

”Pattanam near North Paravur was the ancient city of Muziris or part of Muziris according to geo-archaeological evidences unearthed during a study led by researcher K P..Shajan. The other members of the research team Included Roberta Tomber of the University of Southampton, V Selvakumar of the centre for historical study ,Thrippuuniththura, and Kerala Council of historical research Director Dr P J Cheriyan---.Fragments of Imported Roman amphora used for importing wine, and other materials Yemanese and west asian pottery, were found at Pattanam.The Indian roulette ware-----was also found.Bricks tiles pottery beads and artifacts found at pattanam were very similar to those found----at Arikkamedu.”

How these valuables were obtained to K P Shajan and his team – Roberta Tomber, a foreigner,Dr selvakumar ,and Dr Cheriyan? The excavations of CHS were not begun.

Selvan was the Co-director of the project of CHS! All of them are in double role!!.

What was the role of P J Cheriyan in this excavation and exhibition?

How a foreigener was associate in this trenching?

Now the question is from where did they get these antiquities? There was a panel discussion about these finds. The Kerala university V C Dr Iqbal Dr Michael tharakan attended the exhibition

Was there any permission to conduct excavations and Exhibitions in this manner and to make such announcements in 2004 march??

It is said that many people are doing surveys and excavation works in the archaeologically high potential area. We have to look in to the matter very seriously . Otherwise the valuable archaeological and historical places and evidences will be lost forever. KCHR director has made a request to the Prime minister of India and UPA chairperson to take necessary steps to make avail 45 hectors of land for Pattanam excavations! It is reported in internet media . He has pointed out the necessity of 5 acres in another context also.

"People are digging the land for constructing houses, building roads and digging wells there," P.J. Cherian, director of the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR), told IANS here.

KCHR along with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have been conducting this ambitious research as part of the Muziris Heritage Project.

"We need this land - at least five acres of the 45 hectares - to be acquired by the state government - not by force, but by taking the locals into confidence and paying them a reasonable price."

Archaeologists K.P. Shajan and V. Selvakumar along with Cherian have been involved in the excavations at Pattanam, where evidence of human habitation dating back to the Iron Age has been found.

However, the state government has not able to acquire the land.

Cherian said he and the archaeologists were very "clear" - they do not want to antagonize the local people who had been offering whole-hearted support for the excavations. (The Hindu August 8 ,2700)

This is the situation at “pattaNam “ ASI must interfere in this issue at the earliest.ASI must withdraw the permission given to KCHR or any other institutions to conduct excavations at Cranganuur area including pattanam. along with this ASI must take up the Explorations and Excavations and renovations of early structures under there on control.

There is no meaning in the concept of “Muziris heritage Project It is totally a publicity and marketing idea.It is false

.None of the places or structures hold any heritage factor of Muziris.They are all modern items compared to Muziris factors.

KCHR started their work in pattanam area only in 2007.Benny Kuriakose, an Engineer was given the charge of Muziris Heritage project by KCHR in 2006!. Now according to The Hindu, The excavations by KCHR were started in 2005!

“ He drew the muziris plan in 2006” media reports says. How can it is possible? He says that he started the project in 2008 with an aid of 41 crore rupees as central govt aid.In sept 2009 another allotment of 141 crore was made by Govt of Kerala.Hon: Finance minister of Kerala made this announcement :The Muziris Heritage project a unique tourism and conservation project linking monuments in the area surrounding the bygone 2000 year old Muzirisport will be opened to the public next month”

“. Kuriakose, an alumnus of the College of Engineering (he has a degree in Civil Engineering), the Government Arts College and the Model School in the city, began his career as an apprentice to late architect Laurie Baker. Soon he found his calling in conservation and is today, one of India's leading conservation architects renowned for his tsunami reconstruction projects in Nagapattinam, rehabilitation villages for victims of the Latur and Kutch earthquakes, Dakshinachitra heritage centre, near Chennai, and so on.”

He says ” Brick by brick, stone by stone, the ancient port city of Muziris, which was once one of the most important centres of maritime trade in the world, is being restored to its former glory under the Muziris Heritage Project of the Government of Kerala. At the helm of this ambitious project (currently one of the biggest conservation efforts in India), is its chief consultant, conservation architect Benny Kuriakose. The Chennai-based Kuriakose, who grew up in the city, was here recently for a seminar on conservation. He got chatting about the restoration efforts in and around Kodungalloor taluk in Thrissur district and North Paravur taluk in Ernakulam district, the area of the ‘Muziris Heritage Site.'”

“Kuriakose drew up the Muziris plan in 2006 and the project was started in September 2008 in collaboration with 19 government departments and agencies, with Central Government aid of Rs. 41 crore – the biggest allocation for a conservation plan ever. In the initial phase of the project, four of the 27 odd museums, namely the Paliam Kovilakam, the Paliam Nalukettu and two synagogues, and two archaeological sites, namely, Pattanam and Kottapuram Fort, will shortly be opened to the public.”

“It will not be your usual museum visit. Nor will it solely cater for tourism. All these monuments are connected and we want to tell a story – the story of Kerala – through them. Wherever there are missing links there will be museums (such as the Chavittunatakam Centre at Gothuruthu, Syrian Christian History Museum at Kodungalloor, Traditional Lifestyle Museum at Chendamangalam, Armory Museum at Kottapuram fort and so on). The Muziris Heritage Project is primarily intended to be a centre for education rather than tourism, with focus on sustainability and involvement of the local communities,” explains Kuriakose, adding that the master plan is a model one for conservation in Kerala because it follows international guidelines such as UNESCO charters on heritage conservation, the Nara Document on Authenticity, ICOMOS (International Council of Monuments and Sites) charters and so on. “

Muziris Heritage Site and various Museums (Note prepared for discussion on 21 and 23 November 2009) mention 18 Museums. Heritage centres or museums are not yet seen any were in the so called so called Muziris Area. Renovation of structures of this nature must be done with the permission of ASI. We hope such orders were issued to KCHR.

The publicity given to the name Miseries and its identification of Muziris with Pattanam , in India and abroad is only the outcome of all these activities. There seem to be some hidden agenda behind in these false statements .It is not proper way of research. The archaeological excavations and explanations given to the Findings are predetermined.

Social history-Dangerous Comments by Dr Cheriyan

Dr Cheriyan has made some remarks about Brahmins and Savarnas of Kerala in May 2011. A piece of pottery having three letters was collected from the trench. The scripts are said to be Brahmi and the letters are ca ma Na / a ma Na which denote Sramana or Jains according to them. This is said to be an inscription of first or second century BC.

The disappearance of Port Muziris and its maritime trade activities after first century AD was interpreted in this way.

Some prominent writes wrote in 2010

“When did Muchiri disappear and how? Who were the makers of the glory that was Muchiri, and what happened to them? With the official establishment turning the history project into one of tourism, there is no serious attempt to find answers to these questions.
The official Kerala Tourism website attributes the port’s disappearance to natural causes and European colonisation. It says, “The Muziris port underwent a tragic incident some time around the middle of the 14th century in a massive flood and resultant silting triggered by the river Periyar.-----“

“Whatever the explanation for the disappearance of the structures, it is reasonable to assume that the port’s decline began with the establishment of a feudal order dominated by the Vedic community, which looked down upon seafaring, between the 8th and 10th century.(B R P Bhasker-reported in The Hindu.)

In May 2011 a group of scholers visited Pattanam .Dr Cheriyan gave the following interpretation about the Social History of Kerala:

Why he is bringing such comments of Religious Faunaticism ? on the basis of this statement alone he must be removed from the responsibility of pattanam research and action must be taken against him for making Religious friction .KCHR is aCouncil of prominent historians.they are bound to answer these type of activities of Cheryan

I personally believe that the pattanam paithruka samrakshana samithi and such other groups are coming up because of these type of ideas are being propagated by pattanam excavation authorities.This council must be dissolved on the basis of their activities against the law of the land.

______________________________________________________________________________

Report ; 7/5/2011

Pattanam: A Rupture in the Cultural History of Kerala

// May 7th, 2011 // Cultural Politics The Hindu

“”:On reading my article on Buddhism in Kerala on this very blog, Prof P J Cherian the director of Kerala Council for Historical Research invited me to visit the excavation site at Pattanam near North Paravur in Ernakulam district in central Kerala.

It is in connection with the Muziris heritage project to re-invent and conserve the cultural history and archeological legacy of Kodungallur/Muchiri or Muziris that this extensive digging up is done in various locations on the northern side of the Vadakekara bridge towards the west of NH 17.

Kerala’s historic connections with the rest of the world as far as Arabia,China,Rome and the Mediterranean are unearthed through concerted and dedicated effort of KCHR under the leadership of Prof Cherian. Researchers and expert students from various parts of the world including Britain are involved in the work in progress that began a couple of years ago.

I visited Pattanam along with Prof Laxman of Madras Institute of Developmental Studies, Dr George K Alex of Kozhanchery St Thomas College and Dr Sundarbabu of Vikas Adhyayan Kendra, Mumbai. We were together in an international colloquium on Caste, Religion and Culture at Kochi.

We reached Pattanam just a few miles north of Paravur that still spots its Jew street, cemetery and synagogue around 7am on the bright sunny morning of May 3, 2011. Pattanam means port city in ancient Tamil and even in current Malayalam like Valapattanam in Malabar or Nagapattanam in Tamil Nadu. Most of the old place names in Kerala that was part of the Chera kingdom of the ancient Tamil country were formed during the ancient Tamilakam era during or soon after the Sangham period (BC 5th to AD 5th centauy) that is known for ancient Sramana Tamil epics Chilapatikaram andManimekhalai.

Prof Cherian welcomed us and showed the details of excavations and allowed us to see and touch the strands of Kerala’s past that is preserved in the various layers of the soil in the pits. He explained to us about iron based early human habitations here in the BC era. According to him Jews reached these shores probably around first century BC and they could be the first converts to Christianity here. The legend of St Thomas reaching Malankara in AD 52 could not be an impossibility according to him. The myth of the first Brahman converts is clearly a later bogus fabrication by a threatened minority community under Brahmanical hegemony that persecuted minorities like Jains and Buddhists and annihilated them from the soil of Kerala for ever.

Then with the help of terracotta ware called Indian rouletted-ware belonging to around fourth or third century BC he explained that there was a clear presence of Sramana groups and trading communities from the north from the third century BC onwards. Brahmi script used to write on the terracotta ware in old Tamil language was introduced in south India by these Sramana or Chamana or Amana sages who reached the south with their trading and mercantile brethren.

The Hindu daily has recently reported the finding of these earthen ware with the inscription in Brahmi Tamil script “Amana” meaning Sramana or Jain/Buddhist in origin. It clearly establishes the fact that Kerala was civilized by Sramana sages in BC fourth/third century itself.

This concrete historical and archeological evidences prove that the light of letters and ethics were spread among the people of south India by Buddhism and Jainism as early as fourth or third century BC against the Hindu hegemonic claims of Brahmanism civilizing Kerala in the seventh or eighth century AD.

Dedicated experts involved in patient and painstaking perusal and careful classification of thousands of potsherds everyday. Prof Cherian says “they don’t lie…” about our pasts

Prof Cherian showed us small beads and Roman amphora and other vessels belonging to the Mediterranean lands. The Vesuvian volcanic minerals in the potsherds are clearly visible even after 2000 years. The bitumen coating in some of them are still intact and they belong to West Asia. These handicrafts of clay from ancient civilizations never lie about their time and place according to Prof Cherian. Chera coins with the impression of bow and arrow (symbolizing the Villava legacy) were also recovered from the site. These findings establish the historical validity of Sangham literature and early literary references in old Tamil regarding the cultural pasts of Chera land and the ancient Tamil country comprising Chola and Pandya kingdoms along with it. After all we got vivid references of Muchiri from ancient Tamil epics.

This indeed is a break and rupture in Kerala’s cultural history and archeology. It marks a moment of paradigm shift and radical departure for all who served the dominant and hegemonic Hindu Savarna or Brahmanical versions of the pasts of Kerala repressively established through epistemological violence and erasure and covet silence by some of the high priests, sacred ideologues and Savarna headmen who monopolized and policed speech, letters, politics and history in this small part of the world.

Even the orthodox and official historians who are keeping mum would have to accept the concrete tangible evidences this excavation has rediscovered in an undeniable and profounder way. Let us appreciate the phenomenal work materialized by KCHR under the leadership of Prof P J Cherian and friends.

Prof P J Cherian, Director, KCHR leading the excavations at Pattanam and disseminating knowledge to the people and enlightening us on our cultural pasts and legacies

This radical moment prompts us to continue our search and excavations in other parts of Kerala especially in Cherthala and Alapuzha regions where the huge wooden ship was unearthed in similar attempts earlier. The extensive archeological studies in Kuttanad and neighborhoods especially Karthikappally, Mavelikara, Karunagapally, Kayamkulam, Thotapally, Trikunapuzha, Aratupuzha regions would also produce valuable findings regarding the real and vital past of Kerala.

The Government, departments concerned and other institutions in the field may address these key cultural tasks ahead with revitalized energy and ethical commitment to people and their lived history. Let us recover our real history and make it visible and tangible for posterity.””

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KCHR WRITINGS

“Introduction ,Report submitted to ASI by KCHR -2007

The site was first located by Shajan K P (1998) based on the information given by Mr. Vinodan, a resident of Pattanam. The surveys and explorations (1996-98) by the archaeology students of the Centre for Ecological and Cultural Studies, U C College Alwaye also paved the way towards identifying the latent potential of the site. Subsequently, the site was investigated by a group of researchers in 2003 and 2004 and a hypothesis that, it could be the location of ancient Muziris was put forth (Shajan et al. 2004, 2005, 2006).

In 2004, trial excavations were undertaken at the site by the Centre for Heritage Studies and a preliminary culture-chronological sequence was proposed (Selvakumar et al. 2005; Shajan and Selvakumar 2006; Tomber 2005). Intensive and systematic surface surveys were undertaken at this site by Shinu Abraham in 2005 and 2006 (Abraham 2005, 2006). Against this backdrop, the research at Pattanam was initiated by the KCHR under the aegis of the Muziris Heritage Project of the Kerala Government.

Explorations and salvage excavations conducted by various individuals (Gurukkal 1987, Rajan Chedambath 1997, Cherian 1996-1998, Shajan 1998) and institutions such as Union Christian College [Centre for Ecological and Archaeological Studies] and Kerala State Archaeology Department had brought to light several megalithic burial sites in the Lower Periyar basin. However, habitation remains related to the megalithic period remained as elusive as ever. In this context of paucity of material evidence for the Early Historic Indo-Roman trade on the Malabar Coast, the discovery of Pattanam can be said to be a major breakthrough.”

Muziris Heritage Project

Muziris Heritage Project is an attempt at retrieving the historical heritage of the Kodungallur-Paravur region. It involves archaeological and historical research, documentation and publication. The project proposes to research, conserve and manage the historical, archaeological, ecological and cultural resources of the Kodungallur region, covering the Lower Periyar Basin, lying between North Parur in the south and Mathilakam in the north, down to the Arabian Sea from Krishnankotta and Mala in the east. The project further explores the possibility of conservation, renovation and reconstruction. The constructions of heritage museums, site museums, publications are also the objectives of the project.

The major historical sites covered by this project include Kottapuram Fort, Cheraman Parambu, Thiruvanchikulam Temple, Cheraman Masjid, Tali Shiva Temple, Sri Kurumba Bhagavathy Temple, Krishnan Kotta, Kottayil Kovilakam, Chennamangalam Synagogue, Jewish Cemetery, Vaippincotta Seminary, Holy Cross Church, Palium Dutch Palace, Pallipuram Fort, St Thomas Church and Kodungallur Kovilakam. KCHR, identified as the nodal agency for Muziris Heritage Project provides academic guidance and undertake archaeological / historical researches in the region. The implementation agencies are Tourism, Archaeology and Revenue Departments of the state.

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Arikkamed 1 c.A D.maps mark Muziris at periyar rivermouth

2011-08-22T01:34:00.000-07:00

The Bead SiteHome>Ancient Beads> Middle East > Indian Ocean Trade

Early Navigation and Trade in the Indian Ocean (Ravenna, Italy 4-7 July 2002)
Is.I.A.O. (Istituto Italiano per l'Africa e l'Oriente), Università di Bologna - Sede di Ravenna
Dipartimento di Archeologia dell'Università di Bologna and Fondazione Flaminia

THE BEAD TRADE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE
TO BERENIKE, EGYPT
(Part One of Three)

Pete Francis

Beads make ideal trade items because they are highly portable and treasured where they are imported. To our advantage, many are made of durable materials and last into the archaeological record. They are, for example, the oldest known form of art.

From the beginning, I will tell you what many of you already know. I am something of an evangelist for beads. I believe their scientific, humanistic study can teach us much about the past. In this short time, I want to show you some examples of that.

In terms of beads, Berenike, Egypt, principally traded with India. From the third century B.C. through the second century A.D. the trade was mostly with South India. The garnets (left) and quartz (right) stone beads look like they came from Arikamedu or perhaps Kodumanal in the south. The small, drawn (cut from a tube) Indo-Pacific glass beads also look like they were coming from there.

Indo-Pacific beads were not very numerous in those centuries, making up only about four percent of the beads excavated. However, after the hiatus of the third century, they become very important, making up some 40% of the beads on the site. They were not from Arikamedu.

We do not have them analyzed yet, but the colors make it quite clear that they were coming from Mantai, at the northern end of Sri Lanka.

Arikamedu did not make orange glass beads (see left). Mantai did (right)
and also made an unusual green-blue glass, unlike that of Arikamedu or other
Indo-Pacific beadmaking site.

What happened? In the first and second centuries, the principal South Indian port was Muziris, on the Malabar Coast. Muziris was mentioned in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, in Ptolemy's Geography, and is prominent on the Peutinger Table. It is also celebrated in the Tamil-language Sangam poetry. Yet, no one has ever identified it.

Left: a section of the map of India drawn after Ptolomy's Geographia. Muziris empo-rium is clearly more important than neighboring towns.
As it was an "emporium," Roman merchants lived there for some time.

The Sangam poems never describe large buildings at Muziris, only its role as a port. Neither Muziris nor Westerners are mentioned after the first century. The "Augustinian Temple" on the Peutinger Table is, in my opinion, a mishearing of a temple to Agastya, the Patron Saint of South India.

Right: section of the Peutinger Table,
perhaps a fifth century copy of a third century copy of a first century map.

Map of South India. It appears that raw materials for stone and glass beadmakers came from an area just off the northwest corner of the map and from around Kodumanal (on the Noyil River) to Arikamedu (west coast) and Kodumanal. Their beads passed through the Palghat Gap and down river to Muziris for export to the Roman West. A maritime route, involving Mantai, Sri Lanka, may also have been used.

The Sangam poets put Muziris on the Periyar River (see map). But "periyar" just means
"big river." There were several "Periyar Rivers" in Sangam times and the Periyar of today may well not be the Periyar of the past, especially along the shifting Malabar Coast
(Francis 2002: 119-120).

It seems likely that Muziris was a small fishing village with a temporarily good port down-stream from the Palghat Gap, one of the few places where one can cross the Western Ghat mountain range. Just over the gap is the lapidary-jewelry site of Kodumanal, very close to the source of beryl and other gems, as well as pepper and cardamom-growing regions. Arikamedu probably sent its gemstone and glass beads in this direction, as well
(Francis 2002: 121-122).

The Romans found it a good place to trade, but after the Romans left, it fell back to sleep. When the Romans returned a century later, there was not much there and they kept on going until the reached the bustling port of Mantai. As confirmation of this, Roman coins are very scarce in Sri Lanka until the fourth century, when they appear in large quantities
(Weerakkody 1997: 163-154).

The case of the mysterious Muziris is an example of what we can learn when
we incorporate bead evidence into our understanding of trading networks.
Many other things can be learned as well.

Part Two: Beads and the Demographics of Berenike

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No evidence to identyfy paTTaNam as MUZIRIS.Nagaswamy

2011-08-05T07:21:00.000-07:00

Pattanam and Muziris-

2011-08-05T00:22:00.001-07:00

Time has not come to identify Pattanam as Muziris,

Time has not come to identify Pattanam as Muziris, R. Nagaswamy, former Vice-Chancellor of Kanchipuram University, has said.
In his inaugural address at a seminar on ‘Muziris heritage and Pattanam excavations — a critical review' organised by the Muziris Heritage Preservation Forum here on Thursday, Dr. Nagaswamy, former Director of the Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department, said that many scholars had written that a part of Kodungalloor could have been Muziris.
“It would be advisable that Kodungalloor is also excavated, like Pattanam, extensively. Let both materials be compared before arriving at any conclusion. We have to wait for more excavations. Archaeology requires a lot of evidence. We cannot jump into conclusions. I think there is need to excavate Kodungalloor region also and then compare the findings,” he said.
Praising the excavators for the good job done at Pattanam, Dr. Nagaswamy, who visited the Pattanam excavation site on Thursday morning, said it was really striking and wonderful that an enormous number of a particular type of potsherd has been found in a very small area. These are storage jars with double handle and conical bottoms used for storing olive oil, wine, fish, etc, he said.
‘Extraordinary finds'
Stating that P.J. Cherian, Director, Kerala Council for Historical Research, had told him that about 6,800 broken pottery of this particular variety had been found in three trenches at the site, Dr. Nagaswamy said this was extraordinary. He said that this referred to the presence of a big population, which had come down by way of trade to the west coast.
Dr. Nagaswamy said that square copper coins (on one side elephant and on the other bows and arrows) had also been found at the site. “These type of coins were issued in the beginning of the Christian era. But what has not been found is one type of highly polished red type of pottery with the stamp of Roman potters. That has been found in the east coast in excavations near Puducherry,” he said.
Dr. Nagaswamy said there was lack of evidence to show that the artefacts unearthed at Pattanam came specifically from Rome. ‘‘We are yet to get more information that this is connected directly to Italy,'' he said.
T. Sathyamoorthy, former Director, Department of Archaeology, Kerala, presided. The ‘Muziris-Attimariyude Reethisasthram' published by the Muziris Heritage Preservation Forum was released on the occasion.

Pattanam and Muziris

2011-08-05T00:22:00.000-07:00