From Khambat to Kaveripumpattinam to Poompuhar – The excavation, exploration and underwater exploration and excavation!

From Khambat to Kaveripumpattinam to Poompuhar – The excavation, exploration and underwater exploration and excavation!

From S. R. Rao NIO to Ramaswamy and NIOT: S. R. Rao, NIO conducted excavations at the Tranqubar-Poompuhar coastal area during 1960s[1]. He also preliminary underwater exploration and excavation carried on during 1980s[2] and at that time, the TN Government was not so interested in pursuing further under the pretext of funds and other reasons. In fact, the then, CM off TN reportedly and sarcastically remarked, “You are going to prove that the city was submerged and the evidences are excavated, but, our literary evidences already say that.” However, the TN archaeologists, historians, Dravidologists and “myth-makers” always talk glory about submerged cities off Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean off the south. The “Kumarik kandam” has always been favourite topic for them. Anybody, who does not support or talks against it would be dubbed and branded as “the enemy of the Tamils,” “traitor, renegade” and so on. The report of S. R. Rao with all details can be be read from this book[3]. Now SM Ramasamy has brought out details dating the city back to 15,000 YBP, relying upon Grahm Hancock[4].

The Sangam Cholas capital and Port city: The celebrated ancient port capital of Chola is situated on the confluence of the river Kaveri and the Bay of Bengal.  It is believed that the ancient city of Poompuhar was submerged by the sea which finds a detailed description in Manimekhalai. The archaeological explorations have brought to light a large number of evidences indicating the partial submergence of the ancient town. A few brick structures have been found in intertidal zone and explorations in 5 m water depth yielded the evidence of rolled pottery which suggests that some part of habitation was submerged. A shipwreck dated to late 18^th century CE has also been found off Poompuhar in 19 m water depth[5]. This shipwreck is yielding a large number of lead ingots. Tranquebar another site about 15 km south of Poompuhar has remains of Chola, Ducth and Danish period. There is a fort of Dutch settlement at Tranquebar which has been partially submerged in sea. This is an indication of shoreline changes during the last 300 yrs. 

Poompuhar or Kaveripumpattinam: The NIO gives this narrative on Poompuhar[6], “Poompuhar, the submerged ancient port city situated in modern-day Mayiladuthurai district in Tamil Nadu, might have existed 15,000 years ago, and not 2,500 years ago as was earlier believed”, researchers at the department of remote sensing of Bharathidasan University (BDU) have said[7]. No sample, however, has been collected or dated. A group of researchers from NIOT have been publishing papers in “Current Science” and other journals[8], jointly and individually on the same and similar subject for the last five years[9]. Earlier studies had established that Poompuhar, also called Kaveripoompattinam, had maritime trade links with South East Asia and Egypt, before it disappeared from the maritime map around 1,000 years ago[10]. “While initially it was believed that the port city that gained prominence during the Chola dynasty was around 2,500 years old, the latest study based on offshore explorations and geological features interpreted on the sea floor estimates it was at least 15,000 years old,” the university said in a press release[11].

Poompuhar and Khambat: If scientific dating confirms the estimate, Poompuhar could be the oldest known ‘town’ in India and, arguably, across the world. Similar undersea explorations in the Gulf of Cambay off the Gujarat coast in the early 2000s had discovered a lost city believed to be the ancient Dwaraka, then dated to 7,500 BCE (which predates Mohenjodaro by 4,500 years). Actually, the NIOT announced the discovery of objects and the dates of them recovered during dredging operations at the Khambat. When the discovery was briefed by Dr Murali Manoher Joshi, a Physics Doctorate and Professor teaching physics. However, as he was a BJP Minister at that time, his briefing was criticized and the dating of the objects etc., were questioned by the leftists historians. Even Iravatham Mahadevan reacted to it[12]. Just like “submerged 15,000 years old Poompuhar city,” a submerged city was described with the material evidences recovered. 

Research done in 2019 with NIOT-ships: The Poompuhar study, sponsored by the department of Science and technology and technically supported by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), found structures that could’ve been a harbour, dockyards, human settlements and a lighthouse, around 40km from the present coast, at a depth of 50m-100m. Sometime in the middle of 2019, when scientists on board Sagar Tara and Sagar Anveshika, research vessels from the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), neared Poompuhar off the Tamil Nadu coast, they knew they were floating over history. Just that they didn’t know how old the civilization, whose remnants lay about 100m beneath their feet, was. Poompuhar, the ancient Tamil port city lost to the sea, was earlier believed to have been about 2,500 years old, when the Chola kings set sail to capture distant lands in the east.

The 15,000 years – is assumed: Now, the research team from Bharathidasan University’s Department of remote sensing says they have reasons to believe it was 15,000 years old. The study, sponsored by the Department of science and Technology and technically supported by NIOT, compared offshore exploration findings near the Poompuhar coast with sea level data generated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In the next phase, NIOT will collect samples from the sea to substantiate the findings. The team said the geological features of the sea floor – a harbour, dockyards, human settlements and a lighthouse -have matched sea level conditions that existed 15,000 years ago.

Research carried on with Remote sensing methods: “Poompuhar had a harbour that sprawled over 11km in length and 3km in breadth, with breakwaters and canals to handle and store merchandise. We have found evidence of a primitive dockyard that could handle 70-80 ships at a time,” S M Ramasamy, professor of eminence and national coordinator, Project Poompuhar, Bharathidasan University, said. The university has published the part on harbour in the journal ‘Current Science’. D Rajasekhar, head, NIOT vessel management cell, said the team studied around 6,000sqkm and found most of the ruins at a depth of 25m to 50m below the seabed. A multibeam echosounder attached to the ship was used to study the variation in depth of the sea (bathymetry). Based on data collected by the echosounder, a sub-bottom profiler mapped the seafloor. In the next phase, NIOT will deploy a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to capture images.

Photos taken by remotely operated vehicle (ROV): “We have completed a trial run with an ROV, which was attached with a camera and a sonar. We plan to collect some coring samples,” he said. The study found rowed settlements with compound walls and geological evidence of pits dug on the seafloor. Remains of an ancient lighthouse were found at a depth of 50m, with a spiral staircase and causeway pillars having a design like the Cleopatra lighthouse of Egypt. So, how did the old city go under? Ramaswamy said the region was prone to floods, tsunamis and accelerated impact of sea level rise and cyclone-induced storms.

Poompuhar was relocated at least six times before settling down at the present place: “Poompuhar was relocated at least six times before settling down at the present place. Due to marine transgression, the sea might have reached the land till the present day Mayiladuthurai around 6,000 years ago and regressed later,” the project coordinator said. Around 12 government and private educational institutions including Tamil University, Annamalai University and SASTRA University will be engaged in further studies of the research. “The study will go on for another year and the findings will encourage a similar study to explore Kumari Kandam, a mythical lost continent in the Indian Ocean,” the research team said. (With inputs from U Tejonmayam).

Concluding remarks: Any way, going through all data and information, the following points may have to be kept in mind:

1. The Sangam literature has been dated from 300 BCE to 100 CE, and the Sangam period has been fixed accordingly.
2. Recently, based on the single C-14 dating of Keeladi sample, the 580 BCE date is claimed for the Sangam period.
3. Thus, the “historic period” of Sangam period is claimed to precede the Asokan period of 3^rd cent.BCE.
4. However, there has not been any inscription found comparable to the Asokan inscriptions, as the claim is made on few  “marks” found on potsherds.
5. However, there has not been any consensus among the historians and archaeologists, as the town formation and other material evidences do not go back to such 6^th cent BCE period.
6. Here, now no sample has been collected and therefore scientific dating cannot be thought of.
7. The “15,000” years claim has been far-feteched and has no historical basis.
8. No human habitation is proved for the different levels assumed for the existence of a city based on the photographs.
9. They also claim that they would excavate for “Kumarik kandam,” another myth floated by the Tamil protagonists and linguistic enthusiasts.
10. Under the guise of “scientific studies,” such claims need not be made and news created sending wrong signals to the general public.

K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

22-01-2023 / revised 15-04-2023

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[1] S.R.Rao, Excavations at Kaveripattinam, Transactions of Archaeological Society of South India, Madras, 1965.

[2] S. R. Rao, Marine archaeological explorations of Tranqubar-Poompuhar region of Tamil Nadu coast, Journal of Marine Archaeology, Goa,1991, No.2, pp.5-20.

S. R. Rao, Underwater explorations of submerged towns near Tranquebar Tamil Nadu, Recent Advances in marie archaeology, Goa, 1991, pp.60-64.

[3] S. R. Rao, Marine Arhaeology in India, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, New Delhi,  2001, See Chapter-VI – Discovery of Poompuhar submerged in the Bay of Bengal, pp.169-192.

[4] Hancock, G., Underworld: The Flooded Kingdoms of the Ice Age, Penguin Books, London, 2002, p. 741.

[5] https://www.nio.org/galleries/show/poompuhar

[6] Times of India, Tamil Nadu’s Poompuhar may be over 15,000 years old: Study, DEEPAK KARTHIK / TNN / Updated: Jan 21, 2023, 05:03 IST.

[7] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/tamil-nadus-poompuhar-may-be-over-15000-years-old-study/articleshow/97186246.cms

[8] SM. Ramasamy1, J. Saravanavel, K. Palanivel, C. J. Kumanan and D. Rajasekhar, Detection of submerged harbour using GEBCO and MBES data, in the offshore region of ancient port city Poompuhar,South India, Current Science, Vol.119, No.3, 10 august, 2020, pp.526-534.

Click to access 0526.pdf

[9] Lissa, M., et al. “Semantic data model for knowledge representation and dissemination of cultural heritage site, Poompuhar.” CURRENT SCIENCE 123.10 (2022): 1237.

[10] The Hindu, Ancient port city of Poompuhar traced undersea, claim researchers, S. Ganesan, January 20, 2023 10:12 pm | Updated January 21, 2023 06:10 pm IST.

[11] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/ancient-port-city-of-poompuhar-traced-undersea-claim-researchers/article66413969.ece

[12] Frotline, ‘Be sceptical, and not negative and destructive’, Interview with Iravatham Mahadevan. Published : Mar 30, 2002 00:00 IST.

https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/article30244518.ece

A National Seminar held on “Understanding the Cultural Focus on Thiruvarur Region Heritage of Tamil Nadu – Focus on Thiruvarur region” on March 17th and 18th 2022 at the Central University of Tamil Nadu – CUTN, Thiruvarur (2)

A National Seminar held on “Understanding the Cultural Focus on Thiruvarur Region Heritage of Tamil Nadu – Focus on Thiruvarur region” on March 17^th and 18^th 2022 at the Central University of Tamil Nadu – CUTN, Thiruvarur (2)

The seminar hall

17-03-2022 (Thursday): As usual I got up by 3.45 am, but, I could not do anything here. I could listen to peacocks screaming, as they have been plenty here in and around. Mayiladurai – the place where peacocks dance is also nearby[1]. There was no internet connection also, though it was a Central University. Of course, nowadays all have a wireless internet connection that has become the order of the day. Thus, I was going through the papers and materials that are there in my laptop. Till 8.00 am nobody was there to tell anything about the seminar, inaugural function etc. No arrangement was made for coffee. We came down to the ground floor and saw people going here and there. One person was carrying a steel-flask with tumblers going to VIPs rooms, evidently serving them at their rooms. I saw Dr Rajendran coming after walking. We were talking for some time. I learned that has father Sri M. K. Narayanan aged 91 enjoying life with grandchildren and great-grandchildren also. I am happy to know about him, as he was the principal of our Pachaiyappas’ College.

The banner and backdrop

2020 circular/ brochure

The seminar is held after two years: It was to be held in March 2020 and then perhaps getting on postponed due to pandemic reasons[2].  Thus, as pointed out from January 2022, it was postponed to March 2022. Meanwhile, the faculty, persons involved with the seminar and others were also changed. Thus, with God’s grace, now the delegates have gathered here and the seminar is conducted. I am also happy to see, meet and talk with many old friends and others after two or three years.

Registration of delegates………………….A paper presenter from Tirupati, AP

Lighting the lamp

10.30 am – Seminar hall: All were sitting, perhaps expecting the arrival of the VC of the CUTN, Prof. M. Krishnan. As usual, the lighting of the lamp also started with the VIPs sharing each wick and with shoes and without shoes. The Tamil-Mother praising song was sung with the clear instruction that all should stand. During the facilitation of the VIPs, I could notice that the VC had been generous enough to offer his shawl to a student! And of course, he did it last also, i.e, first the guests, a good gesture noticed.

Tamil Mother Hail song sung…….

Tamil Mother Hail song sung…….all stood up

10.43  to 10.7 am: Then, the VC started describing the importance of Thiruvarur and pointed out that had the delegates come a day before i.e, on 15-03-2022, they could have witnessed the “Great Chariot Festival”. Tiruvarur Chariot festival, known in Tamil as Tiruvarur Therottam, is a historical event that still follows the same rituals and traditions associated with the Thyagaraja Swamy temple, Tiruvarur, in Tamil Nadu. The Lord Veethividangar (வீதிவிடங்கர்) now called as Thiyagarajaswami (Shiva) comes out of the massive ancient temple, with his consort Kondi (கொண்டி) (Parvathi) to bless the devotees who always comes to visit him in his abode, one of the world’s biggest chariots. And this chariot was constructed by Kothanars and it is Asia’s biggest chariot of 95” high,  weighing about 350 MT. After mentioning many temples, he pointed out that Kodikkarai is very near to Sri Lanka.

Importance of Vedaranyam, Kodokkarai etc: Kodiakkarai, also called Point Calimere or Cape Calimere, is a low headland of the Coromandel Coast, in the Nagapattinam district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The Cape is located about 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) south of Vedaranyam in the delta region of the Cauvery River, and marks a nearly right-angle turn in the coastline. Vearanyam is also associated with the Salt Satyagraha conducted by Rajaji. The antiquity of the area is evidenced by the Kodi Kuzhagar temple built during the Chola period, and a Chola lighthouse, which was destroyed in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Kodiakkarai has been designated as a Ramsar site since August 2002. Point Calimere is also associated with the mythological Hindu epic, the Ramayana. The highest point of the cape, at an elevation of 4 metres (13 ft), is Ramarpatham, meaning “Rama’s feet” in Tamil. A stone slab on the Cape bears the impressions of two feet and is said to be the place where Rama stood and reconnoitred / watched over Ravana’s kingdom in Sri Lanka, which is 48 kilometres (30 miles) to the south of the Point. It is also mentioned by Kalki in his historical novel Ponniyin Selvan.

10.58 to 11.11 am  Prof Bhagabana Sahu[3], HOD History Department, CUTN:  he pointed out that Tamil Nadu has retained her distinctive cultural heritage from the rest of India and Tamil is the oldest classical language. It had an impact on the South East Asian region through maritime activities. R. Balakrishnan in his book, “Journey of a Civilization from Indus to Vaigai” stated the continuity of the culture and it can be traced back to c.500 BCE, Sangam Age.

11.12 to 11.17 am Louis Mushary: He introduced the dignitaries mentioning their qualifications, papers and books published, positions occupied, their management skills etc. The VC of CUTN left, as he was having the UGC meeting.

11.18 to 11.44 am Prof N. Rajendran, Former VC, Alagappa University: He distinguished the IVC, Mauryan and Asokan script, stone at etc with that of the Sangam literature and period. Tamilagam was not secluded from India and the Sangam literature has a pan-Indian identity. P. T. Srinivasa Iyengar points out in one chapter in his book giving many examples from the Sangam literature (the gold of Nandas hidden under the Ganges)  and also from Ramayana and Mahabharata….The inscriptions of Asoka and Kharavela mention about the Tamil kings. In fact, the Kharavela Hatigumpa inscription gives the date of the Tamil kings matching with the Sangam Literature. While the Asokan Brahmi had been already a well-developed script, the Keeladi script had been in the developing stage.

11.44 to 11.8 am Prof Byomakesh Tripathy, VC, Utkal University[4]: he emphasized about the importance of the transfer of archaeological findings to the textbooks, so that it could spread to the academician. Writing history sitting at the tables without visiting the sites cannot bring out the full details and the facts. The intangible culture and cultural heritage have been very important and they should be recorded, as otherwise, many of such evidences may disappear. The elements of change and continuity have also should be noted, taken into account and writing history and historiography.  

11.58 to 12.02 Prof Sulochana Sekhar, Registrar In-charge: Taking a clue from the Tamil words and expressions (திருவாரூரில் பிறந்தாலும், திருவாரூர் என்ற பெயரை சொன்னாலும் முக்தி கிடைக்கும், Jallikkattu, kal thondri man thondra kalattu ‘கல் தோன்றி மண் தோன்றாக் காலத்தே வாளொடு முன்தோன்றி மூத்தகுடி’ என்று புறப்பொருள் வெண்பா … etc..), she explained the cultural heritage of the Tamils.

12.03 to 12.2 pm Dr Dayalan, ex-Director, ASI: He read his paper with the PPT showing the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, microlithic, Neolithic, megalithic evidences and conjectural dwelling of the ancient people. All were expecting his findings of Keeladi, as other dignitaries were referring to him, but he told that he would be restricted to the earlier findings. He also asked the organizers to take copies of his paper and circulated them among the delegates, as he had given his full paper.

After a vote of thanks, the delegates disbursed for a lunch. By 2.30 pm, all assembled for the technical session to begin.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

19-03-2022

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[1] The famous Mayuranatha Svami (Siva) temple in Mayiladuthurai is one among the 275 Padal Petra Sthalams or temples which have been praised in the Tamil verses of the Nayanmars (important devotees of Siva).  It is the thirty-ninth temple on the south bank of River Kaveri to be extolled in the hymns of the Nayanmars. Thirunavukkarasar (Appar) and Thirugnanasambandar of the 7th century C.E. have sung in praise of the main deity here. Mayuranatha Svami is believed to have stopped the floods of River Kaveri to make way for Thirugnanasambandar to visit this temple. The Siva Linga worshipped as Mayuranatha Svami is said to be Swayambhu (self-manifested).

[2] https://cutn.ac.in/events/understanding-the-cultural-heritage-of-tamilnadu-focus-on-thiruvarur-region/

[3] Former President ,Odisha History Congress, Former Professor & Head, Department of History Berhampur University, Professor & Head , Department of History , Central University of Tamil Nadu.

[4] Prof. Byomakesh Tripathy, the professor of the Department of History in Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the Utkal University of Culture in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Governor and Chancellor Prof Ganeshi Lal issued a notification in this regard. Prof Tripathy, a Ph.D. from Sambalpur University in 1994 has 27 years of teaching experience and out of that he has worked as Professor for 17 years. He is a resource person in ‘Formulation of Courses of Studies in History and Archaeology’.  Prof Tripathy has authored at least five books and edited 13 books. He has attended 24 national conferences and nine International Conferences. He was the topper in History Honours of Sambalpur University in 1984. Besides, he has guided eleven research scholars for Ph. D. Earlier Prof. Tripathy has worked as the HOD of Dept of History, Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar, Chairman, Board of Studies, Director (Academics), Indira Gandhi National Tribal University.

Sun sculpture found in an agriculture field at Kalugodu village, Gummagatta Mandal of Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh on 30-10-2020 and its significance.

Sun sculpture found in an agriculture field at Kalugodu village, Gummagatta Mandal of Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh on 30-10-2020 and its significance.

Suryadeva / Sun God sculpture found on 30-10-2020: A sculpture of Sun God has been found in an agriculture field at Kalugodu village, Gummagatta Mandal of Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh, G Shiva Kumar, Joint Secretary, Rayadurgam Heritage Association said on Friday, 30-10-2020[1]. According to the officer, Nagendra, a farmer of the village was digging his field on Friday and the two feet high stone sculpture was found[2]. Kumar came to know of it, visited the field, took photographs and sent them to Em Sivanagi Reddy, a historian and CEO of Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati (CCVA)[3]. Reddy in his observations said that the sculpture found on the banks of river Vedavati is that of Surya, the Sun God who has lotus in both hands[4]. It is in the architectural style of Nolamba Pallavas and dates to 10^th century AD, he added[5]. It is unbelievable and astonishing as to why historians are still using AD, BC etc., in India. As the stone sculpture was found in the field, the landowner informed the matter to village Revenue Officer Hanumanta Rao[6]. Gummagatta Mandal Tehsildar Venkatachalapati informed the matter to the higher authorities[7]. Local police also visited the site[8]. A priest from nearby temple performed “pooja” to the idol. Kumar requested the officials to preserve the statue and place it in the Government Museum Anantapur. So, the entire process has been ritualized by the concerned authorities / persons in their own way. Of course, this news, obviously picked up from “The Hindu,” has been repeatedly appearing in other media.

According to Vedveer Arya, the date could go to the Satavahana period: However, certain researchers claim that the date of the sculpture could go beyond the medieval period[9]. Vedveer Arya says[10], “An inscribed stone inscription was found to the north of this site. This inacription belongs to the Nolamba king Maydammarasa. It is written in Kannada language and Telugu-Kannada characters of 2^nd cent CE. Interestingly, it mentions the death of a person Kilgunte (self-sacrifice of a person for the death of his master). But this inscription has no link with the sculpture of Sun God. The art of the sculpture indicates the period of Shatavahanas or Ikshvaku kings of Andhra.” It has to be verified that inscriptions with “Kannada language and Telugu-Kannada characters of 2^nd cent CE,” have been found and recorded in the Epigraphica Karnataka and Epihgraphia Indica volumes.

Nolumba temple complex at Amaravati, Anatapur: There has been a Doddeswara temple complex of the Nolumbas at Hemavati, with many temples / sannidhis inside. Many of the sannidhis have been in a ruined condition. A museum is nearby, where, hundreds of broken sculptures are kept inside and outside the museum building.  The broken sculptures are found in and around the temple complex, in the fields and nearby remote places. Sivaramamurti noted[11], “Surya, however, as in the case of regular Chalukya figures, has amazons, warlike figures with bow and arrow, flanking him, driving out darkness by shooting it out (pl. XXXVI). This feature is invariable the case of Surya in northern sculpture, a tradition followed by the Chalnkys sculptors but not by the Tamil school (pi. XXXVIIIa), where always Surya stands in solitary glory. He is, however, bare-footed, as, in spite of the penetration and absorption of other northern traditions in the Chalnkya school, the top-boots of Surya are absent”. Douglas Barret[12] also noted that, “To the right of the Surya (plate.13) stands a broken pillar with a long Kanarese inscription which mentions the greatest of the Nolamba rulers.” Shama Sastry[13] has also pointed out. Therefore, if the period of the inscriptions is to be equated with the nearby sculptures, then, the dates have to be changed. In India, the sculptures are dated relatively either based on the style, or the inscriptions found on them or nearby. And this has been the practice for more than 150 years by the European Indologists, followed by the Indian counterparts.

The second Nolamba Surya sculpture in the Madras museum: Sivaramamurti, described about another Nolamba Suya sculture in the Madras museum[14], “This most elaborately worked image of Surya (pl. V) in high relief is a great masterpiece of Nolamba art. In this all the elaborate patterns of ornamentation in Nolamba sculptures can easily be observed. The kirita is elaborate and of the karanda type with profuse ornamentation. Makara-kundalas adorn the ear lobes. There are elaborate courses of neck ornament, the bottom-most with mango-shaped pendants with an amount of decorative work covering his entire chest. Ornamental tassels are present on the shoulders and elaborate keyuras on his arms. ………Both the arms of the figure and the lotuses held in the hands are broken and lost. This is one of the finest examples of Surya of this period. The udarabandha is very elaborately worked as a band with a course of tassels suspended in a row all along..” Though, he noted that, “Both the arms of the figure and the lotuses held in the hands are broken and lost,” he has not given any reason for breakage and loss. Incidentally, Rajendra Chola had come here and taken away 50 pillars from the Doddeswara temple, proving that the temple complex was in shambles and deserted .

About the Fifty Nolamba Pillars[15]: About this, also C. Sivaramamurti gives the details: At Tiruvaiyar seven miles from Thanjavur, is an ancient Chola temple adjunct of which is the Apparsvami shrine. This small temple is associated with the great Saiva – saint who converted the Pallava king Mahendravarman to Saivism and the sacred spot has a temple erected by Rajendra (1014-1044 CE). An inscription on the plinth gives the prasasti of Rajendra Chola. Around the temple are corridors with rows of pillars. There are about fifty exquisitely carved pillars in greenish basalt with intricate carving in a style so different from all around that they stand out distinctive entirely variant from their surroundings[16]. These are in fact Nolamba pillars brought as war trophies by the great connoisseur of art Rajendra, as considered by the historians.

Comparison of the three Surya sculptures: If all the three are Nolamba sculptures, then, they can be compared. Why the Nolambas of the same dynasty, period and sculptors of the sculptures in question should vary in the style, character and form of them? Whether he sculptors changed or they had been ordered to do so, has to be critically analyzed.

Surya sculpture at the Madras Museum	Surya sculpture at the Hemavati  Museum	Surya sculpture discovered now in 2020
Northern style/ Hoysala style. Face exhibits distinguishable Gupta features.	Normal	Regular feature May be resembling Surya Narayana.
Elaborate ornamentation	Normal. Two female devatas are found at the feet oneither side of the legs.	Simple, the sacred thread is prominently visible. Holding two lotuses with cords.
`123Broken condition, two upper hands are missing.	Broken condition, two upper hands are missing. Here, the outer prabha portion is seen in broken condition.	It is with two hands, no indication of other two hands. Others portions might have been broken.

Therefore, it is clear that the three sculptures differ in many iconographical factors and therefore, they cannot belong to the same period. Here, the Sun God has been found in an agriculture field at Kalugodu village, Gummagatta Mandal of Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh, in buried condition. Therefore, it is implied and evident that it was buried as it was mutilated and cannot be worshipped in a temple. Many idols were left in field and remote places “as is where is condition,” as they were defiled by the mlechas.

Why the sculptures are found in broken condition?: After 10^th century, as Malikafur invaded Southern India, during 1309-1311, he ransacked many temples and looted wealth. Therefore, he could have gone to Hemavati area and plundered. In 1309, Alauddin sent Malik-Kafur on an expedition to the Kakatiya kingdom and Kafur’s army reached the Kakatiya capital, Warangal, in January 1310, and breached its outer fort after a month-long siege. The Kakatiya ruler, Prataparudra, surrendered and agreed to pay tribute. Kafur returned to Delhi in June 1310 with a huge amount of wealth obtained from the defeated king.The Koh-i-Noor diamond was said to be among the loot.  He led another expedition of looting set off on 19 October 1310, and reached the extremity of peninsular India. On 25 February 1311, Kafur besieged Dwarasamudra, and looted. Kafur proceeded to the Pandya kingdom, where he raided several places, obtaining much treasure and many elephants and horses. Kafur occupied Madurai on 24 April, and reached Delhi in triumph on 18 October 1311.

The Sun temple must have existed there: The hundreds of broken sculptures in the Hemavati  museum prove that many temples must have been destroyed and thus, the broken sculptures were brought and dumped there inside and outside. The sculptures and idols Saptamata and other goddesses strewn here and there, show that a Sakti temple was destroyed. The other sculptures related to tantric worship implies that such temple was also destroyed. The Sun sculpture and other broken Navagraha sculptures prove the existence of a Sun temple. Therefore, the existence of Sun temple there proves the Sun worship. Even the broken sculpture at Sangameswarar temple, Alampur  complex prove.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

03-11-2020.

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[1] The Hindu, Stone idol of Sun God discovered, Special Correspondent, ANANTAPUR , OCTOBER 31, 2020 11:47 IST; UPDATED: OCTOBER 31, 2020 11:47 IST.

[2] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/stone-idol-of-sun-god-discovered/article32989153.ece

[3] Business World, 10th Century Sun God Sculpture Found In Agriculture Field In Andhra Pradesh, by ANI, 31October, 2020

[4] http://www.businessworld.in/article/10th-Century-Sun-God-sculpture-found-in-agriculture-field-in-Andhra-Pradesh/31-10-2020-337665/

[5] India TV News Desk, Andhra village farmer finds 10th century Sun God sculpture while digging agricultural field, New DelhiPublished on: October 31, 2020 9:13 IST

[6] https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/10th-century-sun-god-sculpture-found-andhra-pradesh-agricultural-field-661262

[7] ZeeNews, 10th Century Sun God sculpture found in agriculture field in Andhra Pradesh, October 31, 2020.

[8] https://www.zee5.com/zee5news/10th-century-sun-god-sculpture-found-in-agriculture-field-in-andhra-pradesh/

[9] MyIndiaGlory, Sculpture of Sun God discovered in Andhra Farmland: 2000+ year old?, October 31 2020.

[10] https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2020/11/02/sculpture-of-sun-god-discovered-in-andhra-farmland-2000-year-old/

[11]  C. Sivaramamurti, Nolamba Sculptures in the Maddras Government Musuem, Bulletin on the Madras Government Museum, New Series, General Section, Vol.IX, No.1, 1964, p.12.

[12] Douglas Barret, Hemavati, Bhulabhai Memorial Institute, Bombay, 1958.

[13] R. Shama Sastry, South Indian Inscriptions (Texts), Vol..IX, Part-I, Madras, 1939, No.19, pp.8-9.

[14]  C. Sivaramamurti, Nolamba Sculptures in the Maddras Government Musuem, Ibid, p.16.

[15] K. V. Ramakrishna Rao, The Nolamba Temple Pillars brought by Rajendra Chola from Hemavati to Thanjavur, Proceedings of the 41^st Session of Andhra Pradesh History Congress , Anantapur, 2017, pp.

[16] C. Sivaramamurti, Nolamba Sculptures in the Madras Government Musuem, opt.cit, pl. XXV.

The proceedings of the 9th national conference on marine archaeology of Indian Ocean countries held at the Tamil University, Thanjavur on February 20th and 21st 2016

The proceedings of the 9th national conference on marine archaeology of Indian Ocean countries held at the Tamil University, Thanjavur on February 20^th and 21^st 2016

The 9th national conference on marine archaeology of Indian Ocean countries was held at the Tamil University, Thanjavur on February 20^th and 21^st 2016 organized by the Society for Marine Archaeology, NIO, Goa[1], in association with the department of Maritime history and Marine archaeology, Tamil University and Department of Archaeology, Government of Tamilnadu, Chennai. The last 8^th conference was held at Goa[2].

ASI members

About the Conference and organizers: The Society for Marine Archaeology, Goa organized the 8th National Conference on Maritime Archaeology (NCMA) in collaboration with National Institute of Oceanography and Archaeological Survey of India (Goa Circle) on July 1-2, 2013 in the memory of late Dr. S.R. Rao. The conference was supported by National Centre for Ocean and Antarctic Research, Goa, State Government of Goa and others. The National Conference on Maritime Archaeology (NCMA) was held to bring into focus the latest findings by the researchers, academicians and amateur archaeologists[3]. After three years, now, it was held in Thanjavur. The delegate fees for members was Rs.500/- and they were accommodated in the Gust House of the Tamil University. Only few invited were accommodated in the Hotels.

20-02-2016 – first day Inauguration: Around 10.48 am on February 20^th, the 9^th National conference was inaugurated with routines of inviting speeches, lighting the lamp, honouring guests etc. Instead of regular shawls, cotton shawls were offered here, so that they could be used for the purpose. N. Athiyaman welcomed all, As Rajiv Nigam and R. S. Bishit did not come, A. S. Gaur introduced the Society for Marine Archaeology, NIO, Goa to the audience gathered there. Interestingly, N. Rajendran, Rajan, Alok Tripathi, S. Rajavelu, G. Baskaran, VC, Tamil Universty and others took just three-five minutes to wind up their speeches. G. Baskaran, VC, pointed out that we were not giving importance to marine archaeology, as we gave importance space research. Oceans give food, job, and Oxygen essential for life. Of the food 20% protein and 70% Oxygen. Though we have many photographs about cosmos and sky, we do less about under water. That is why the marine archaeologists gather every year and discuss issues in the conference[4]. After that, Dr Roberta Tomber, British Museum, London and Dr P. J. Cherian, Kerala Council for Historical Research gave key-note addresses.

Another view of inauguration – AS Gaur, Adhiyama, VC, PJ Cherian, Tomber, Rajan

View of the audience RHS from the podium.

Another view of the audience LHS from the podium.

Six objects that illustrate how India’s trade with ancient Rome was conducted: Tomber, was a visiting fellow at the British Museum, who is currently working on Indian Ocean commerce through the study of Roman and non-Roman pottery from ports of the Red Sea and India. Speaking on “A history of Indo-Roman trade through its objects” as part of the 9th national conference on marine archaeology of Indian Ocean countries at the Tamil University, Thanjavur, Tomber said some gemstones, such as diamonds, garnets and sapphire were available only from India or Sri Lanka, but others including pearls, emeralds and carnelian had other known sources, including Egypt. She gave following examples:

1. A silver pepper pot,
2. gemstones,
3. black pepper,
4. cooking pots,
5. coins and
6. Roman amphorae – historian Roberta Tomber chose these six seemingly disparate and unconnected objects to show why and how Indo-Roman trade was conducted in the ancient world[5].

“The evidence from Pattanam (an ancient site near Ernakulam) clearly shows that cameo blanks were prepared in India, although they might have been finished in the Roman world,” she said. But in the case of intaglio (carving of stone or other materials), Tomber said the skills were probably transferred to India from the West. The ‘Empress’ pepper pot was part of a large Roman hoard excavated from Hoxne in the east of England. It contained more than 14,000 coins, gold jewellery, cutlery and other pepper pots. “The fact that the “Empress” is made of gilded silver shows the value with which pepper was regarded, and it was spices and particularly black pepper that drove trade between the Mediterranean and India,” said.

About Roman coins – In most cases these coins were not used monetarily, but as bullion: Tomber said the largest finds of black pepper in the Roman world come from, including an Indian storage jar containing 7.5 kilos of black pepper. In the Roman world, black pepper was a very expensive commodity. One of the few items of similar value that the Romans could exchange with India was gold and silver – which was traded in the form of coinage. “In most cases these coins were not used monetarily, but as bullion. This is supported by the defacing and reuse of Roman coins in India. Coinage was so highly valued that it was imitated, both in metal and clay,” she said. During her research, she found a very different level of interaction evidenced by the common occurrence of Indian cooking pots at Quseir al-Qadim and Berenike in Egypt. “Unlike the Indian storage jars, the cooking pots are thought to belong to Indian sailors residing on site, enabling them to cook in a manner that was familiar. Only rarely has this pottery been found beyond the Egyptian ports, further supporting that they reflect a resident community rather than trade items,” she said. Roman amphorae, according to Tomber, are another type of pottery widely found throughout the Indian Ocean and its distribution, clustering at one or two port sites, suggests that many of the amphorae were for consumption in the ports[6].

My observations on the paper of Roberta Tomber: As for as the Roman coins were concerned, first she mentioned that “……….the few items of similar value ……….was gold and silver – which was traded in the form of coinage”, however, “In most cases these coins were not used monetarily, but as bullion.” In other words, Indians purchased or exchanged them as scrap foe melting and rarely used as pendants. That is why some coins found had holes, but, interestingly, they were duplicate and manufactured dated to 18^th cent. CE. Her over emphasis about the usage of vessels by Indians and forceful interpretation about them were also intriguing.

How Roam empire disappeared, whereas Indian civilization has been continuing: P. L. Gupta pointed out about the bullion value of circulation of Roman coins in India along with wine and women. Very often, faithful Indian women were contrasted with venal Roman women[7]. Of course, many western scholars have also pointed out as to how the Roman women were so crazy about Indian beryls for their ear-drops[8]. How pepper import from India drained their annual bullion – 50 million sesterces[9] – was also well known. Contact with India affected bullion prices within Roman territories and Eastern trade developed, the Roman monetary system became less representative of actual bullion values on the Roman market[10].  When the Roman Empire collapsed, their coins were traded for metal value. As barter system was there, the European, Arab and African merchants were using metals as means of buying India goods. It has to be noted that when the ancient civilizations rose, fell and disappeared, the Indian civilization has been continuing attracting the other civilizations.

P. J. Cherian and “Pattanam excavations”: Another key-note address was given by P. J. Cherian, Director of Kerala Council for Historical Research. His presentation started with slides. The moment, the first slide was shown, the on looking delegates were curious to note “To Rohith Vemula” below the title! There were murmurs and soft discussion among the delegates who were sitting in the front two rows particularly on LHS from the dais. I asked what the significance of it was and why it was shown in the slide. For this, he told, “I will tell you…………..yes, I will explain”. I asked again as to why he wanted to bring such controversies here. But, he tried to justify, so I told him to restrict his presentation to academic proceedings and not to bring any controversy to the University here. But, he was relentless and he appeared to proceed with his agenda. So I told, “If you do like this, some may raise slogans “Pakistan Jindabad”, “Afzalguru Jindabad” and so on here”. So when I went near to the screen to take a snap, Selvakumar, immediately changed to next. I told him that I wanted to take a snap of the first slide. Immediately, he came to the dias and requested P. J. Cherian restrict to his findings at Pattanam. Then, I repeated the same in Tamil also. At last, he started his presentation showing his slides on “Pattanam excavations”! He was repeating the same point several times with many pauses. At one stage, he wanted to stress that there were points ………….he mentioned three, but, he could not tell the fourth. Interestingly, none of these Key-note addresses were given to the delegates of the Conference.

Observation on the presentation of P. J. Cherian: This was the first time that I was listening to his paper. Though, I used to read some paper reports about “Pattanam” excavations, I did not take interest in it, as there were difference of opinion reported by the archaeologists, historians and others. Dr R. Nagasamy[11], Prof A. Sundara, Rajan Gurukkal, Romila Thapar[12] and others pointed out intriguing factors in the excavations conducted and interpretations.  Prof A. Sundara leading archaeologist from Karnataka pointed out that there were no major structural remains at the site. He asked P.J. Cherian to precisely record and classify antiquities from each trench rather than pooling them together and interpreting them. Prof. Sundara told Cherian that such approaches were not adopted in field archaeology since cultural material from each trench had its validity. Prof Sundara also pointed out that the claims of structural remains from Pattanam was questionable. Dr. K. N. Dikshit former Joint Director General of Archaeological Survey of India and Secretary of Indian Archaeological Society questioned the claims of P. J. Cherian that Historical Period at Pattanam goes around 1000 BC. K.N. Dikshit asked Cherian to be cautious and review such claims since Historical Period in Peninsular India has not gone beyond 200-300BC. It was felt that the controversy could have been avoided in research, as it would only divide the experts, scholars and research.

Technical session – first day afternoon (20-02-2016): As per the “Abstracts”, there were 15 papers were included for presentation. The first session was on “Archaeology of the coastal survey of India” chaired by Dr A. Arunraj, ASI, Chennai and the following papers were presented between 2.45 and 4.15 pm:

Sl. No	Paper presenter	Title of the paper
1	A. S. Gaur and Sundaresh	Marine archaeological explorations along the South Gujarat Coast with focus on the estuaries of the river Narmada and Tapti
2	Preeta Nayar, Thiruvananathapuram – 695003, Kerala	Pattanam beads: An assessment
3	C. Veeraraghavan	Waterway transport in Rock painting
4	R. N. Kumaran and Bipan Chandra	Megaliths in District Kachchh, Gujarat.

Dr A. Arunraj not only commented on the paper presentation, but also offered suggestions for the paper presentation.

The next session was about “Temples on the coast across the sea” held between 4.15 and 5.45 pm, chaired by Prof. Sarvamangala and the following papers were presented:

Sl. No	Paper presenter	Title of the paper
1	S. Balakrishna Hegde	The Quanzhou temple and the Cholas’ connection: The maritime puzzle between the Chinese and the Cholas
2	J. Soundararajan	Monuments of coastal region in South India and their conservation and preservation
3	Young Sun Lee	Cultural Brokerage and Mediation (Jewish community in Cochin and the New Museums)

About the paper on Quanzhou temple, the chairperson expressed her doubts as to whether it could be a “Chola temple” at all. J. Soundararajan’s paper evoked about the ethics of the ways of conservation and preservation methods followed. After the technical session, there was a cultural programme at the “Karikal Cholan auditorium”, where, students performed two traditional dances with instruments. The General body meeting of the Society for Marine Archaeology, Goa was held thereafter.

The Second day – 21-02-2016 proceedings: On 21^st February, the paper reading session continued with the following papers:

	R. Dubey, R. Nigam, R. Sundaresh and A. S. Gaur	Dolavira city fortification: Tsunami / sea storm protection initiative by Harappans.
	L. N. Samy	Boat development
	C. M. Jaseera and Sreelatha Damodaran	The boat traditions of Lower Chaliyar basinm Kerala: A ethnographic approach
	K. V. Ramakrishna Rao	A Critical study of the Shipping Technology of the Cholas
	V. Selvakumar	Ceramics from Tamilnadu and Indian ocean exchange in early historic and early medieval period.

My paper also evoked the usual controversy about the existence of “Chola navy” etc., as usual. V. Selvakumar’’s suggestion about the “manufacture of ceramics in India with indigenous technology, but with imported designs on them” induced some questions. He responded that it was only his hypothesis. Tomber was suggesting the social stigma in using bowls and vessels by people, as their names were found on them. This was also questioned by others.

After lunch, five papers were presented of which three in Tamil and two in English and the session was chaired by Thiru Naga. Ganesan. Then, the conference was wound up with the valedictory function. The national anthem was not sung and it was noted conspicuously by the delegates.

[1] Society for Marine Archaeology, National Institute of Oceanography, Domna Paula, Goa – 404 004.

[2] https://kvramakrishnarao.wordpress.com/2013/07/06/the-8th-conference-on-marine-archaeology-and-indian-ocean-countries-goa-2013/

[3]  http://www.nio.org/index/option/com_eventdisplay/task/view/tid/4/sid/24/eid/204

[4] Actually, the Society for Marine Archaeology conducts National conference once in three years and the last conference was held in Goa.

[5] Times of India, Six objects that illustrate how India’s trade with ancient Rome was conducted, TNN | Feb 22, 2016, 05.14 AM IST.

[6] http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Six-objects-that-illustrate-how-Indias-trade-with-ancient-Rome-was-conducted/articleshow/51084564.cms

[7]  Grant Parker, The Making of Roman India, Cambridge University Press, London, 2008, 91.

[8] Michael Grant, Roman History from Coins: Some Uses of the Imperial Coinage to the Historian, Cambridge University Press, 1968, p.84

[9] A silver or bronze coin of ancient Rome equivalent to one fourth of a denarius

[10] Raoul McLaughlin, Rome and the Distant East: Trade Routes to the Ancient Lands of Arabia, India and china, Continuum, New Zealand, 2010, p.169.

[11] http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/expert-nails-false-propaganda-on-muziris-2-390263.html

In his inaugural address at a seminar on ‘Muziris heritage and Pattanam excavations — a critical review’ organised by the Muziris Heritage Preservation Forum here on 05-08-2011, Thursday, Dr. Nagaswamy, former Director of the Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department, said that many scholars had written that a part of Kodungalloor. Time has not come to identify Pattanam as Muziris, he  said.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/archaeologist-calls-for-excavations-at-kodungalloor/article2324054.ece

[12]  The nature of the settlement there, for instance, was one to be explored. Whether it was just a warehouse, or where goods were produced for trade, or whether it was a port or a site that had sequential historical development – were all matters of intrigue. The innumerable shards of amphorae (wine jars), for instance, threw open questions whether a liking for wine was deliberately cultivated in the local people, or whether these shards were just remnants of wine jars that were used for ballast in ships. The percentage of Indian pottery at the site, in contrast to imported pottery too was important, she said, adding that Pattanam, indeed, was a turning point for studies into India’s maritime relations. Dr. Thapar, however, 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.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/pattanam-throws-open-many-questions-romila-thapar/article5123431.ece