For years, Pattanam, a village in Kerala's Ernakulam district, has been believed to be part of the ancient Port City of Muziris. Muziris was a major trade hub that linked the the Graeco-Romans, Egyptians, West Asians, Africans, South Arabians, Indians, and🌺 Chinese.
Initially, Pattanam was not considered a prominent historical site, untilജ the local people began noticing ancient artefacts brought to the surface by heavy rains. The archaeological mound at the site spans around 70 hectares and atop it sits a museum displaying finds from the excavations.
Here is the timeli🐻ne of archaeological excavations at Pattanam.
Pre-2007
In June 2006, an investigation by two archaeologists, KP Shajan and ♋V Selvakumar, suggested that Pattanam could be the place where Muziris once stood. "It is the first time these remains have been found on this coast," Shajan told BBC World Service's Discovery programme. "We believe it could be Muziris."
2007-2015: KCHR Excavations
In 2007, the , an autonomous body supported by the state government, began excavations at Pattanam. Between 2007 and 2015, KCHR conducted nine seasons of excavations. Over nine years, archaeologists unearthed more than 1.29 lakh artefacts, some dating back to the ♊Iron Age (1000–500 BCE). The discoveries indicated trade with the Mediterranean and Arabian Peninsula during the peak of the Roman Empire (1st century CE).
They found Roman amphorae (a first on Kerala’s coast), a wharf-like structure, a dug-out canoe that is approximately 2,000 years old – plus foundations, bricks and tiles, tools and artefacts made of iron, lead and copper, glass beads, gold ornaments and semi-precious stones meant for export. The site's chronology spans three millennia, from circa 1000 BCE, with evidence of habitation across the Iron Age, Early Historic, Medieval, and Modern periods. Based on these findings, archaeologists suggest Pattanam waᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚs the centre of the ancient Muziris port that existed 2,000 years ago.
2015: ASI Probe And Suspension
In 2015, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), whose assent is mandatory for any excavation in the country, suspended KCHR’s license due to allegations of "unscientific approaches" ไused during their excavations at the Pattanam site and launched an inquiry into the work it had done till then. This was in response to a comp꧋laint by the Bharatheeya Vichara Kendram, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, who claimed that the project was a “collective conspiracy and propaganda to claim that Pattanam was the ancient Muziris.”
Hindutva organisations alleged that the project, led by PJ Cherian, aimed to fabricate evidence supporting the claim that St. Thomas, one of Jesus Christ’s apostles, arrived in the region. According to popular belief, St. Thomas reached the ancient town of Muziris (present-day Kodungalloor) in AD 52, bringing Christianity to India. Right-wing groups often challenge this claim, citing a lack of archaeological🔴 evidence. They have also targeted Cherian, questioning his Christian identity.
2018: PJ Cherian Starts PAMA
After retiring in 2016, PJ Cherian established the (Paternal and Maternal Ancestry) Inst🐲itute for the Advancement of Trans-disciplinary Archaeological Sciences. In 2019, ASI inspected the site and granted excavation permits to PAMA for 2019–2020 and 2021–2022, with Cherian as the Principal Investigator. He obtained a license and resumed excavation at Pattanam.
2021: ASI Cancels PAMA Excavation Permits
In 2021, ASI cancelled the excavation permits previously granted to PAMA. Uཧpon appealing to the Delhi High Court, the ban was nullified. However, according to Cherian, there has since been no fo๊rmal written response, and other recourse from ASI.
Current Status
The excavation at Pattanam wa♍s reportedly taken over by ASI right after the licence for KCHR had been revoked. As of now, the ASI is said to continue the project, but🌼 the officials are unwilling to share information with the media.
