An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s18.17

v1.c9.s18.17

The early historical period of s. and s.-w. India [4.18.11; 12] seems to have had its own peculiarities. Though, as in the neighbouring regions, it originated in the midst of megaliths, its driving force arose not so much out of n. Indian contacts as trade with the Roman world in the 1st century B.C., particularly resulting in the establishment of sea-ports and emporia and in the flow of Roman gold coins and occasionally objects from the Mediterranean world. The type site is ARIKAMEDU, which, with its Arretine Ware [11.20], Rouletted Ware [11.21] and amphorae [11.19], provides a chronological datum line for other sites.