The latest official report is seen in the Research papers presented in a an International conference convened at COLOMBO to discuss the findings of Pattanam excavations in 2011-This is a report of
the multi-disciplinary excavation conducted as part of the Muziris Heritage Project by the
Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR), in collaboration with the Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI) and various institutes and universities inside and outside the nation
Abstracts - Colombo conference papers on Pattanam
Publications related to Pattanam Research
ABSTRACT OF RESEARCHPAPERS
Conference of the International Association for Asian Heritage, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Pattanam research team attended the first conference of the International
Association for Asian Heritage during the second week of April 2011 at
Colombo, Sri Lanka and presented sixteen papers in a session on Pattanam
excavations and Indian Ocean exchanges. The team also undertook study tours
to some important archaeological sites of Sri Lanka.
1The maritime spice route that linked peninsular India with
West Asia, Red Sea and Mediterranean rims; new
archaeological evidence from Pattanam (Muziris)
P.J. Cherian# , K.P. Shajan# , V. Selvakumar+ , M. Nambirajan^ , K. Rajan* , Preeta Nayar#
# Kerala Council for Historical Research + Tamil University, ^ Archaeological Survey of India,
Thrissur Circle , * Pondicherry Universitya)
To discuss the evidence on the Early Historic exchanges between India and the
Mediterranean world, with Muziris and Berenike ports as reference points
2
The Industrial Context of Pattanam and Trench PT XVI, 2010
Season
Dineesh Krishnan P J Cherian
Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR)
Pattanam site today is widely recognized as one of the major archaeological sites in South
Asia. The site poses number of challenges in understanding the complexities of life in an
ancient port site, generally agreed to be the legendary port ofMuziris.
3
Local pottery from Pattanam, Kerala: A report of the 2007
excavations
V. Selvakumar+ , P.J. Cherian# , K.P. Shajan#
+ Tamil University, # Kerala Council of Historical Research
Pattanam is an archaeological site located in the Periyar delta of Kerala. This site has
evidence for occupation from the Iron Age to the Late Medieval period spanning several
hundreds of years. The most important cultural period represented at the site is the Early
Historic, when the Indian Ocean trade and exchange were very active in the southern part
of India. Until the discovery of this site, the port of ancient Muziris was considered to be
at Kodungallur. The identification of the site through the initial surveys of K.P.Shajan
and later joint work by the authors (Shajan et al 2004, Selvakumar et al. 2005)
Papers presented in the Colombo Conference
1P K Vijimol P J Cherian
2K. Vasudevan*, P. J. Cherian*, V Selvakumar+ , K. Ramia*
3V. Selvakumar+ , P.J. Cherian# , K.P. Shajan
4Sarathchandrababu*, P J Cherian* and V Selvakumar
5KP Rajesh PJ Cherian
6KK.Rajan*, P.J.Cherian K.P. Shajan*, P. J. Cherian* , V. Selvakumar
7Preeta Nayar P J Cherian
8Prasanth M.S* P J Cherian+
9Dr.M.Nambirajan* , Dr.P.J.Cherian#
10Madhavi Kunneriath PJ Cherian
11Jaseera Majeed*, PJ Cherian*, V. Selvakumar+ , K. Remia*
12Dineesh Krishnan P J Cherian
13Deepak P_ Salil GK† PJ Cherian‡
14PJ Cherian*, V Selvakumar,+ K P Shajan*
15.J. Cherian# , K.P. Shajan# , V. Selvakumar+ , M. Nambirajan^ , K. Rajan* , Preeta Nayar#.J.16Cherian# , K.P. Shajan# , V. Selvakumar+ , M. Nambirajan^ , K. Rajan* , Preeta Nayar#
Publications / Essays related to Pattanam Archeological Research
Out of 33 papers only 4 of themare written by others-28 are written by PJ Cheriyan KCHR Team Members
1. Cherian P. J., "Archaeology of Death: The Urn Burials of the Periyar Belt", Discourse(s),
Journal for Multi-Disciplinary Studies Vol 1, U C College Publication, Alwaye, 1998, pp 101-
113
2. Shajan K. P., Tomber R., Selvakumar V., and Cherian P. J., "Locating the ancient port of
Muziris: Fresh findings from Pattanam", Journal of Roman Archaeology, Vol. 17, New Delhi,
2004, pp 312-320.
3. Selvakumar V., Gopi P. K. & Shajan K.P., "Trial Excavation at Pattanam: a Preliminary
Report", Journal of the Centre for Heritage Studies Vol 2, Thripunithura, 2005, pp 57-66
4. Shajan K. P., Cherian P. J., Selvakumar V., "Pattanam Muziris Thanneyo?’’(Mal), AdhAram, A
Journal for Kerala Archaeology and History Vol. I, Keraleeya Purathatva Samiti, M G
University, Kottayam, 2006, pp 50-59
5. Cherian P. J., Selvakumar V., Shajan K. P., "Evidence for the ancient port of Muziri at
Pattanam, Kerala" in Chemmozhi, a Quarterly Newsletter from Center of Excellence for
Classical Tamil, Vol.2, Number 1, Chennai, October- December, 2007, pp 26-27
6. Shajan K. P., Selvakumar V., "Pattanam: the first Iron Age early historic settlement of
Kerala", "Recent Archaeological Excavations at Pattanam, Kerala", in Manmathan, M R, (ed),
Archaeology in Kerala: Past and Present, Kozhikkode, 2007, Pp 30-45
7. Cherian P. J., Selvakumar V. and Shajan K. P., ’Pattanam in the maritime History of South
West India’ Proceedings of the International Seminar on Marine Archaeology, Indian Navy and
ASI, New Delhi 2007
8. Cherian P. J., ""Puravasthupadanam Oru Pichaveppinde Ormakuruppu’’(Mal.), Suvarna
Keralam Souvenir, Kerala University Publication, Thiruvananthapuram, 2006, pp 170 - 174
9. Cherian P. J., Shajan K. P., Selvakumar V., "Charithraranbhakaalathe Samskarika
Vinimayangalude Jeevithamudragal’’ (Mal.), Janapadam, (Govt. of Kerala Publication),
Thiruvananthapuram, October 2008, pp. 24 - 27
10. Cherian P. J., Selvakumar V., Shajan K. P., "The Muziris Heritage Project: Excavations at
Pattanam-2007" in Sunil Gupta (Ed), Journal of Indian Ocean Archaeology, November, 2007,
New Delhi, 2008, pp 1-10
11. Cherian P. J., "The Muziris Heritage Project and the Archaeological Research at Pattanam:
An Overview", The Living Dead and the Lost Knowledge, Department of Archaeology,
Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 2008 , pp 5 - 20
12. Selvakumar V., "Indo Roman Trade and Internal Exchange Systems of Ancient Tamil
Country", The Living Dead and the Lost Knowledge, Department of Archaeology, Government
of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 2008 , pp 21 - 28
13. Shajan K. P., "Evolution of Central Coast and the formation of Pattanam : A Geoarchaeological
study", The Living Dead and the Lost Knowledge, Department of Archaeology,
Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 2008 , pp 29 - 34
14. Raghava Varier M. R., "Graffiti and Brahmi letters from Pattanam: A note on continuity and
change in the art of writing", The Living Dead and the Lost Knowledge, Department of
Archaeology, Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 2008 , pp 35 - 36
15. Tomber R., "The imported pottery at Pattanam: External contacts and trading partners", The
Living Dead and the Lost Knowledge, Department of Archaeology, Government of Kerala,
Thiruvananthapuram, 2008 , pp 37 - 38
16. Steve Sidebotham E., "The Red Sea port of Berenike : Stopover emporium between the
Mediterranean and Malabar coasts", The Living Dead and the Lost Knowledge, Department of
Archaeology, Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 2008 , pp 39 -40
17. Federico De Romanis, "Muziris Trade in the Roman Economy", The Living Dead and the Lost
Knowledge, Department of Archaeology, Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 2008 , pp 41
- 43
18. Sunil Gupta, "Beyond Roman Trade: The Periplus as an Indian Ocean Document", The Living
Dead and the Lost Knowledge, Department of Archaeology, Government of Kerala,
Thiruvananthapuram, 2008 , pp 44 - 46
19. Cherian P. J., Tilok Thakuria, Mohanty R. K., Selvakumar V., Shajan K. P., "Manufacturing of
Stone Ornaments at Pattanam, Kerala : a Preliminary Study from 2007 Excavations", National
Seminar on Buddhism in Orissa & Joint Annual Conference, Dept. of Culture, Govt. of Orissa
20. Cherian P. J., Raviprasad, G. V., Koushik Datta, Dinesh Kr Ray, Selvakumar, V, and Shajan,KP,
"Chronology of Pattanam: a multi-cultural port site on the Malabar coast", in Current Science,
Vol.97, No 2, Bangalore, July 2009, pp 236-240
21. Cherian P. J., "Pattanam in Cochin as a potential world heritage site" in Sankaran Kutty Nair, T P
(ed), India Yesterday and Today (A festschrift for Padmabhooshan Prof. Alappat Sreedhara Menon),
Thiruvananthapuram, 2009, pp 349-365
22. Cherian P. J., "Pattanaparryaveshanam" (Mal.), Thaliru, Balasahitya Institute,
Thiruvananthapuram, July 2009, pp. 28 - 34.
23. Cherian P. J., "The Exchanges between the Early Historic Ports on the Malabar Coast and the
Red Sea Port of Berenike", Proceedings of the Thirtieth Annual Seminar-Maritime History Society,
Mumbai, 2009, pp 65 -79
24. Cherian P. J., Selvakumar V., Shajan K. P., "Maritime traditions of the Malabar coast and the
findings of Pattanam excavations- 2007", Paddayya K et al (Ed.), Recent Research Trends in South
Asian Archaeology, (Prof. H D Sankalia birth centenary, 2007 seminar proceedings), Pune, 2009, pp
321 - 331
25. Cherian P. J., Selvakumar V., Shajan K. P., Interim Report of Pattanam Excavations 2007 KCHR
Publication, Thiruvananthapuram, 2007
26. Cherian P. J., Rajan K., Selvakumar V., Shajan K. P., Interim Report of Pattanam Excavations
2008, KCHR Publication, Thiruvananthapuram, 2008
27. Cherian P. J., Rajan K., Selvakumar V., Shajan K. P., Interim Report of Pattanam Excavations
2009, KCHR Publication, Thiruvananthapuram, 2009
28. Cherian P. J., Nambirajan M., Rajan K., Selvakumar V., Shajan K. P., Interim Report of Pattanam
Excavations 2010, KCHR Publication, Thiruvananthapuram, 2010
29. Cherian P. J., "Pattanam Puravastushasthra Gaveshanathinde Shasthragathiyum Pradhaanyavum’’
(Mal.), Sasthragadhi, Calicut, February 2010, pp. 11- 19
30. Cherian P. J., ""Realising the Real’’, Kerala Calling, (Kerala Govt. Publication),
Thiruvananthapuram, July 2010, pp. 26 - 29
31. Cherian P. J., Meenakshi C. S., "Charithrathilekkulla Pattanapravesham’’ (Mal.), Mathrubhumi
Weekly, Calicut, September 2010, pp 26 -33
32. Pattanam Excavation Manual, KCHR Publication, Thiruvananthapuram, 2007 & 2008CheriyanPJ
33. Cherian P. J., "Pattanam: Pilgrimage Cultural’’, Kerala Calling, (Kerala Govt. Publication),
Thiruvananthapuram, January 2011, pp. 14 - 17
(PDF versions of the documents are available on request)
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“Interestingly, the dig did not unearth any structural remnants that match the magnitude of antiquities The absence of major structures is an intriguing aspect” Dr PJ Cheriyan,Report 2011
