History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c15.s1.69

c15.s1.69

Excavations at Arikamedu have revealed specimens of ancient potteries, both imported and local, belonging to the early ages in South India. In fact, Tamil literature and Latin geographers speak of the Indian trade in and after the first century A.D. At its prime it was extensive, India exporting pepper, pearls, gem-stones, muslin, tortoise-shell, ivory and silk, and importing from the West coral, lead, copper, tin, glass, vases, lamps, wine, etc. There were European trading settlements in India in those days and navigational data were collected, as Pliny refers to the monsoon. Archæological evidence seems to point to A.D. 30 as the date of the earliest settlement near Pondicherry at Arikamedu.