An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s18.t4.14

v1.c9.s18.t4.14

The occurrence of Roman wares at ARIKAMEDU, KANCHIPURAM, SANGAMEDU, URAIYUR, KARUR, KĀVERĪPŪMPATTINAM, etc., would point to active trade with foreign countries, particularly the Roman world. Roman coins unearthed from ARIKAMEDU as elsewhere in s. India suggest a trade route from the w. to the e. coast through the Palghat pass, though a direct maritime route was also in use. Remains of what appears to be a wharf in the backwaters of the sea at KĀVERĪPŪMPAṬṬINAM point to the trading operations in the e. coast. A piece of wood found in the construction was probably used for anchoring ships. The occurrence of a few pieces of black polished ware at KORKAI taken by the excavator to be the NBPW [11.16] would suggest that this city in the extreme s. had contacts with n. India. Several punch-marked coins [3.1], besides Roman and Sātavāhana coins, are available from a few excavations.