Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c24.s1.t9.2

v1.c24.s1.t9.2

Today Arikamedu is a village two miles south of Pondicherry in Tamil Nadu. Archaeological excavations by Mortimer Wheeler and his co-workers have confirmed this site to be an ancient sea-port with industrial establishments and warehouse. Its geographical position is consistent with the general indications given for Pōdoukē by the Periplus and Ptolemy. A re-evaluation by Vimala Begley (1983: 461-81) has placed the period of occupation between 250 BC and AD 300. But it is unlikely that the Roman contact began much before 23 BC, the time of Augustus. The Northern Sector having a 150 feet long warehouse made of brickwork and water-roofing lime-mortar or plaster was built around AD 50. The Southern Sector containing a vat for dyeing the muslin was inhabited somewhat later. The town must have been famous for bead-making.