Pattanam - Revision history

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2022-05-10T16:36:40Z

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	===Criticisms===		===Criticisms===
	Former Director of the [[Tamil Nadu]] State [[Archaeology]] Department R. Nagaswamy is of opinion that it is not yet time to identify Pattanam as [[Muziris]]. [[Kodungallur]] also is to be excavated before coming to a conclusion. [[Archaeology]] requires a lot of evidence before arriving at any conclusion.<ref name="Pattanam2">The Hindu ([[Thiruvananthapuram]] edition) Friday 5 August 2011, Page 9</ref> [[Romila Thapar]] has expressed her reservations on the use of ancient DNA sampling techniques, raising doubts whether there was the danger of bacterial contaminations or mutations in samples taken from skeletons that were buried for over 2,000 years. She however describes Pattanam as "a turning point for studies into India’s maritime relations.".<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/pattanam-throws-open-many-questions-romila-thapar/article5123431.ece/ "Pattanam throws open many questions: Romila Thapar"]</ref> Historian [[M.G.S. Narayanan]] says that Pattanam is not Muziris and that Muziris is Kodungallur. The second Chera dynasty ruled was kodungallur. The [[Jewish copper plates of Cochin\|Jewish copper plate]] inscriptions of 1000 AD says that Kodungallur is '''Muyirikkode'''. '''Muyirikkode''' is another name of Muziris. It is the clear evidence that Kodungallur is Muziris. M.G.S has Participated in excavations at Kodungallur, Kerala (1969–70). He has also discovered and published several medieval Vatteluttu inscriptions mentioning the Cheras of Kodungallur. M. G. S. is said to have spend a night alone at Cheraman Parambu (Kodungallur), the location of the legendary palace complex of the Cheras, during his research on these line of rulers. The Ancient Sreekurumpa temple, Thrikkulashekharapuram shiva temple, Keezhthali shiva temple, Thiruvanchikulam temple, Thrikkannamathilakam Jain temple etc. are situated in Kodungallur. [[Sangam period]] literature contains details about these temples.		Former Director of the [[Tamil Nadu]] State [[Archaeology]] Department R. Nagaswamy is of opinion that it is not yet time to identify Pattanam as [[Muziris]]. [[Kodungallur]] also is to be excavated before coming to a conclusion. [[Archaeology]] requires a lot of evidence before arriving at any conclusion.<ref name="Pattanam2">The Hindu ([[Thiruvananthapuram]] edition) Friday 5 August 2011, Page 9</ref> [[Romila Thapar]] has expressed her reservations on the use of ancient DNA sampling techniques, raising doubts whether there was the danger of bacterial contaminations or mutations in samples taken from skeletons that were buried for over 2,000 years. She however describes Pattanam as "a turning point for studies into India’s maritime relations.".<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/pattanam-throws-open-many-questions-romila-thapar/article5123431.ece/ "Pattanam throws open many questions: Romila Thapar"]</ref> Historian [[M.G.S. Narayanan]] says that Pattanam is not Muziris and that Muziris is Kodungallur. The second Chera dynasty ruled was kodungallur. The [[Jewish copper plates of Cochin\|Jewish copper plate]] inscriptions of 1000 AD says that Kodungallur is ''Muyirikkode''. ''Muyirikkode'' is another name of Muziris. According to him, it is the clear evidence that Kodungallur is Muziris.

	The identification of Pattanam as Muziris is a divisive subject among some of the historians of south India. "Whether Pattanam was Muziris is not of immediate concern to us," the chief of the Kerala Council for Historical Research recently stated to the media. Even the last field report on the excavations (2013) explicitly shows Pattanam as Muziris. <ref name="keralahistory.ac.in">{{cite web\|url=http://www.keralahistory.ac.in/pdf2013/pattanam_7th_season_handbook1.pdf\|title=KCHR Pattanam Seventh Season Handbook\|website=keralahistory.ac.in\|access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref> <ref>S. ANANDAN ''Was Pattanam an urban trade centre?'' 28 May 2014 ''The Hindu'' [http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/was-pattanam-an-urban-trade-centre/article6056558.ece]</ref>		The identification of Pattanam as Muziris is a divisive subject among some of the historians of south India. "Whether Pattanam was Muziris is not of immediate concern to us," the chief of the Kerala Council for Historical Research recently stated to the media. Even the last field report on the excavations (2013) explicitly shows Pattanam as Muziris. <ref name="keralahistory.ac.in">{{cite web\|url=http://www.keralahistory.ac.in/pdf2013/pattanam_7th_season_handbook1.pdf\|title=KCHR Pattanam Seventh Season Handbook\|website=keralahistory.ac.in\|access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref> <ref>S. ANANDAN ''Was Pattanam an urban trade centre?'' 28 May 2014 ''The Hindu'' [http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/was-pattanam-an-urban-trade-centre/article6056558.ece]</ref>

imported>Dunutubble at 01:21, 29 July 2021

2021-07-29T01:21:13Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Pattanam
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Kerala#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kerala, India
| coordinates = {{coord|10.15654|N|76.208982|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kerala]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Ernakulam district|Ernakulam]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body = [[Chittattukara]] Panchayat
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
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| elevation_m =
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| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], [[English language|English]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 683 522
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 0484
| registration_plate = KL-42
| blank1_name_sec1 = Nearest city
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Kochi, India|Kochi]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = [[Lok Sabha]] constituency
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[Ernakulam]]
| blank3_name_sec1 = Civic agency
| blank3_info_sec1 = [[Chittattukara]] Panchayat
| blank1_name_sec2 = [[Climate of India|Climate]]
| blank1_info_sec2 = [[Climatic regions of India|tropical]] <small>([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]])</small>
| website =
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}}

'''Pattanam''' is a village located in the Ernakulam District in the southern [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Kerala]]. It is located 2 km north of [[North Paravur]], 6 km and East of [[Chendamangalam]] 25 km north of [[Kochi]] (Cochin).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/03/stories/2009050356481800.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510031007/http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/03/stories/2009050356481800.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-05-10 |title=National : Pattanam richest Indo-Roman site on Indian Ocean rim |date=2009-05-03 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2011-09-19}}</ref>

==History==
A branch of the '''Kanjirapuzha''', called the Kanjirapuzha Thodu (Kanjirapuzha canal), runs close to Pattanam. Satellite imagery, a clear geological evidence, indicated that the old name of Pattanam is '''Pashnam'''.
Moreover, the residents of Pattanam regularly used to find a large amount of broken pottery shards and ancient fired bricks while digging the ground. The Pattanam old name is '''Pashnam'''.And the junction of Pattanam is called '''Pashnam kavala'''.

==Archaeological excavations==
The site for archaeological research at Pattanam (10°09.434’N; 76°12.587’E) covers about 45 hectares. Due to habitation activities it is a "disturbed" site; some parts are partially destroyed due to sand quarrying.<ref>Cherian, P. J. ; Prasad, G. V. Ravi ; Dutta, Koushik ; Ray, Dinesh Kr. ; Selvakumar, V. ; Shajan, K. P., "Chronology of Pattanam: a multi-cultural port site on the Malabar coast", ''Current Science'' 97(2), 236-40.</ref>

The multi-disciplinary and multi-seasonal archaeological research at Pattanam from 2007 undertaken by the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) is a pioneering initiative in the history of Kerala Archaeology.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.basas.org.uk/groups/ports.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-06-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212102935/http://www.basas.org.uk/groups/ports.htm |archive-date=2010-02-12 }} (http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/Recognition-from-U.K.-for-Pattanam-research/article16640121.ece http://www.kchr.ac.in/</ref>

Square copper coins (on one side an [[elephant]] and on the other bows and arrows) had been found at the site. These types of coins were issued in the beginning of Christian era. At the same time there is lack of evidence to show that the artifacts unearthed at Pattanam came specifically from [[Rome]]. It is necessary to get information that these are connected directly to [[Italy]].<ref name=" Pattanam2" />

Excavated antiquities include Chera coins, Amphora, Terra Sigillatta, Cameo Blanks made of semi-precious stones and stone and glass beads in large quantity. Remains of brick structures made of burned bricks were also found there. A wharf context with a six m dugout canoe made of ''anjili'' wood and bollards made of teak wood and a large quantity of botanical remains were found.

===Excavations 2010===
Findings: Antiquities of small size - beads of both semi-precious stones and glass, pendants or lockets <ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/More-evidence-unearthed-at-ancient-port-of-Muziris/article12060873.ece | title=More evidence unearthed at ancient port of Muziris | date=14 March 2010 | first=A. | last=Srivathsan | newspaper=The Hindu | access-date=11 August 2018 }}</ref> cameo blanks, coins, (predominantly early Chera coins, with symbols of elephant, bow and arrow) objects or fragments of objects made of iron, copper, lead and rarely gold, and sherds of Indian and foreign pottery.
A broken rim with Tamil Brahmi script. This is the first pre-firing pottery inscription finding at Pattanam.
Enormous quantity of local pottery of the early Historic Period, which is dated between first century BC and fourth century AD, showing that this was the peak activity stage of Pattanam.

===Excavations 2011===
The excavations at Pattanam sheds new light on the life and times of the ancient Kerala. The finds this year include iron and copper nails, [[Roman glass]], Chola coins, terracotta and semi precious stone beads.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/12/stories/2011061254420500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616141506/http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/12/stories/2011061254420500.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-06-16 |title=Kerala / Kochi News : Pattanam finds throw more light on trade |date=2011-06-12 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2011-09-19}}</ref>

===Criticisms===
Former Director of the [[Tamil Nadu]] State [[Archaeology]] Department R. Nagaswamy is of opinion that it is not yet time to identify Pattanam as [[Muziris]]. [[Kodungallur]] also is to be excavated before coming to a conclusion. [[Archaeology]] requires a lot of evidence before arriving at any conclusion.<ref name="Pattanam2">The Hindu ([[Thiruvananthapuram]] edition) Friday 5 August 2011, Page 9</ref> [[Romila Thapar]] has expressed her reservations on the use of ancient DNA sampling techniques, raising doubts whether there was the danger of bacterial contaminations or mutations in samples taken from skeletons that were buried for over 2,000 years. She however describes Pattanam as "a turning point for studies into India’s maritime relations.".<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/pattanam-throws-open-many-questions-romila-thapar/article5123431.ece/ "Pattanam throws open many questions: Romila Thapar"]</ref> Historian [[M.G.S. Narayanan]] says that Pattanam is not Muziris and that Muziris is Kodungallur. The second Chera dynasty ruled was kodungallur. The [[Jewish copper plates of Cochin|Jewish copper plate]] inscriptions of 1000 AD says that Kodungallur is '''Muyirikkode'''. '''Muyirikkode''' is another name of Muziris. It is the clear evidence that Kodungallur is Muziris. M.G.S has Participated in excavations at Kodungallur, Kerala (1969–70). He has also discovered and published several medieval Vatteluttu inscriptions mentioning the Cheras of Kodungallur. M. G. S. is said to have spend a night alone at Cheraman Parambu (Kodungallur), the location of the legendary palace complex of the Cheras, during his research on these line of rulers. The Ancient Sreekurumpa temple, Thrikkulashekharapuram shiva temple, Keezhthali shiva temple, Thiruvanchikulam temple, Thrikkannamathilakam Jain temple etc. are situated in Kodungallur. [[Sangam period]] literature contains details about these temples.

The identification of Pattanam as Muziris is a divisive subject among some of the historians of south India. "Whether Pattanam was Muziris is not of immediate concern to us," the chief of the Kerala Council for Historical Research recently stated to the media. Even the last field report on the excavations (2013) explicitly shows Pattanam as Muziris. <ref name="keralahistory.ac.in">{{cite web|url=http://www.keralahistory.ac.in/pdf2013/pattanam_7th_season_handbook1.pdf|title=KCHR Pattanam Seventh Season Handbook|website=keralahistory.ac.in|access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref> <ref>S. ANANDAN ''Was Pattanam an urban trade centre?'' 28 May 2014 ''The Hindu'' [http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/was-pattanam-an-urban-trade-centre/article6056558.ece]</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of archaeological sites by country]]
*[[North Paravur]]
*[[Thiruvanchikulam]]
*[[Ernakulam District]]
*[[Paravur Taluk]]
*[[Kochi]]
*[[Kodungallur]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

===Resources===
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4970452.stm BBC report, Search for India's ancient city]
*[http://www.webahn.co.in/index.html Pattanam Excavations (Comprehensive Resource)]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100603031338/http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/29/stories/2010052960400400.htm Pattanam excavation significant]
{{Ernakulam district}}
{{Tourism in Kerala}}{{Ernakulam-geo-stub}}
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Kerala]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Ernakulam district]]
[[Category:Villages in Ernakulam district]]