In its February 11, 2025 issue 'What Lies Beneath', Outlook has dealt in depth with the issue of politicisation of archaeology. In the issue, Outlook's Shahina K K had traced how the controversies surrounding Pattanam had put an end to excavation work at the archaeological village in Kerala, and how the site is still cloaked in secrecy thanks to the ASI. In response to the article, P.J. Cherian, who initially led the excavation by the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR), warns against politicising the excavation, stressing the need to protect the site and continue research. Excerpts from his response below:
The article by K K Shahina, titled "Pattanam: A Dig Too Deep for the Sangh,෴" is commendable for its focus on an important subject. However, it risks politicising the multidisciplinary archaeological research project at Pattanam which might further hinder the project, overshadowing its academic and scientific significance and leaving critical questions unanswered.
ꦉDue to these concerns, I initially evaded an interview with Ms. Shahina. However, after reading her article, I believe it could serve as a crucial intervention to protect this globally significant site from destruction and help guide this vital project in the right direction.
🌜It is essential to remember that the excavations at Pattanam aim to enhance our archaeological understanding of the site. Their purpose is distinct from speculative narratives about ancient visitors and their motivations.
💮First, the assertion that a Sangh conspiracy solely caused the stagnation of Pattanam’s research, particularly due to extreme right-wing opposition, is misleading. While such opposition existed during the early and later excavation phases, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), at one point, appointed a commission to review the allegations. Following the committee's recommendations, the ASI granted permission for a tenth excavation season in 2016. However, nothing materialised; the director and principal investigator were abruptly removed, and research has since been stalled.
♌Identifying a site lost for circa 20 centuries in the 21st century offers a fascinating opportunity for any civilised society to reconnect with its ancestors. The vast array of artefacts and features unearthed from less than 10 per cent of the site provides invaluable tangible records of immeasurable worth.
﷽According to a multidisciplinary archaeobotanist from the Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art (RLAHA) at Oxford University, the 4.5 million pottery sherds unearthed at Pattanam could yield invaluable insights into our indigenous ancestors from 100 BCE to 300 CE. A diligent student working with just thirty sherds could produce an exceptional PhD dissertation, extracting valid scientific data on their society, trade, health details, origins, and technological and aesthetic practices. Notably, these pottery assemblages feature those from the southern littoral and some hinterland regions of Asia, Africa, and Europe.
ওOne notable category, namely Pattanam amphora wine jars, stands out for their intricate craftsmanship, exquisite things they contained and the rich history of trade and exchange they represent. See Fig 1 & 2.
💦Experts indicate that the discovery of over 10,000 such jar fragments suggest significant Mediterranean wine trade/exchange with the ancient health drinks of Kerala region, including arrack and various mulled wines, as referenced in the Sangam literary sources.
⭕For journalists and curious minds in the scientific community, exploring nearly 150,000 artefacts categorised into 39 types—comprising materials such as iron, gold, copper, silver, lead, glass, precious stones, and terracotta—promises an exciting journey. The quest for the invisible aspects of these artefacts could be even more thrilling. Notably, wood is likely the predominant category from which the Pattanam Homo sapiens may have crafted poetic expressions, sourced from the vast archipelago of rainforests.
༺Unfortunately, due to the acidic soil conditions and constant moisture in Pattanam, approximately 90 per cent of artefacts made from organic materials have been lost. Nonetheless, Pattanam has yielded remarkable finds, including a six-meter canoe (see Fig. 3). Additionally, compelling corroborative evidence from contemporary port sites, particularly Berenike on the Red Sea coast, shows that artefacts exported from Muziris remain remarkably well-preserved (see Figs. 4 & 5).
🔴Ms. Manjula Varium, the founder and director of the American Society for Indo-Egyptian Studies (ASIES) in Dallas, is advocating for PAMA to consider excavating Berenike should the ASI not permit further exploration at Pattanam.
ಌAnyone who owns land can excavate at Pattanam, not just PAMA, because it is classified as an unprotected archaeological site. While scientific excavations use careful methods with tools like spoons, trowels, and pans to dig and analyse soil from specific locations, landowners are free to use heavy machinery as they see fit. The colonial laws intended to protect such sites have largely lost their effectiveness, leaving only a shadow of regulations to prevent negative interventions on this historically significant land in collaboration with the villagers. Colonial authorities viewed the local population as uneducated and incapable of recognizing the value of their rich heritage, often resorting to forceful land acquisition in case of disputes. Many locals fear that permitting excavations will lead to a loss of their land ownership. Despite this fear, the villagers of Pattanam have cooperated significantly, allowing 67 trenches to be excavated and nearly 9 acres of their land to be used for excavation and related activities.
🐽Green Archaeology at Pattanam aimed to empower villagers to become proud owners and managers of their heritage, fostering a mindset inspired by those interred beneath the soil. This mindset includes Anbu (humility), Unmai (inner truth), Patru (cosmic affection), and Pakuthrarivu (critical thinking) of the Sangam Age. These principles were central to their ethos during a time when they practiced a highly sophisticated spirituality, later pejoratively labelled as animism. This worldview recognises the divine in all living and non-living things. According to Jo Marchant, author of "The Human Cosmos: A Secret History of the Stars," this perspective probably reflects a cosmic understanding that flourished between 300 BC and 300 AD, allowing them to transcend boundaries in an era characterized by fluidity and interconnectedness. Eventually, they became the creators of the finest Thamizh language, recognising that all languages are a blend of millions of expressive moments and cognitive frameworks.
See how the wood and carpentry work of the archipelago of rain forests attracted the attention story teller and rice merchant Sathanar. “It was the work of the best craftsmen from the cool Tamil country, together with sculptors from Magadha, skilled in working rare stone, goldsmiths from Maratha country, blacksmiths from Avanti, and Greek (Yavana) carpenters. The tall columns were fashioned of blocks of coral, their wooden capitals supporting beams encrusted with precious stones from which fringes of white pearls hung here and there. The dais was of cloth of gold, magnificently worked. The floor was not as usual covered with a layer of cow dung, but had been lined with gold plates”. (Rice Merchant Shaattan, Manimekhalai: The Dancer with the Magic Bowl 🔜- Translated by Alain Danielou with the collaboration of T.V. Gopala Iyer. (1989) p. 81.)
๊William Dalrymple, the author of the influential book "The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World," highlights the significant role of Indian civilisation in relation to both Chinese and Arabian cultures. He visited Pattanam to honour the legacy of the Muziris port, a vital hub of trade and cultural exchange. Dalrymple notes that between 250 BCE and 1200 CE, Indian civilization made remarkable contributions to the world in various fields, including art, technology, religion, astronomy, music, dance, literature, mathematics, and mythology. The timeline begins around 250 BCE, when the world started to engage with ancient Kerala, bringing gold and seeking the region's valuable resources. By approximately 100 BCE, the Golden Road was firmly established. See Fig.7
🔴A thought experiment: Imagine an academic, an ASI officer, or any state archaeological official who adopts a "Seeing like a State" perspective, as James Scott describes. These individuals or groups might view William Dalrymple and his writings through a skewed political lens, labelling them as either pro or anti-Sanghi, pro-Congress, or anti-Congress. In India, this sets the stage for a plethora of controversies.
♏The media often provides a platform for these judgmental and frequently irrelevant narratives to circulate. Controversies can arise over any topic, driven by individuals who, due to their backgrounds, may have either engaged deeply with Dalrymple’s work or merely glanced at the artifacts unearthed in Pattanam.
🎃Eventually, rather than merely "seeing like a state," these individuals often become embodiments of the state itself. They perpetuate its narratives and biases, ensuring the destruction of archaeological sites.
💛Without delving into the nuances of this thought experiment, we must ask ourselves: Who needs the past, especially the distant past? This question invites reflection on the importance of history and archaeology. Is it to understand our roots, to avoid repeating past mistakes, or to forge a sense of identity and continuity? Or is to it touch the feet of our known and unknown ancestors and payback your liabilities that you are here? To refine you and your relationships during your short stay on this planet? The value placed on the past can shape how it is preserved, studied, and interpreted.
🙈The architectural and structural remains found at Pattanam offer significant insights, featuring well-burned bricks and roof tiles that demonstrate advanced construction techniques. Among these structures are toilet facilities, freshwater wells, and drainage systems, all designed with a focus on human-scale dimensions. If an architecture student were to examine the philosophy of these people regarding their built heritage, she might observe their respect for human-scale design, privacy, and their dedication to sophisticated hygiene and sanitation practices.
ꦇThe wharf complex reveals remarkable features, such as locally made dugout canoes, bollards for securing boats, ballasts, and pottery fragments forming the jetty floor. The wharf itself was constructed from a mixture of clay, laterite fragments, pottery, and lime. It is unfortunate that we have not yet conducted a thorough analysis of this legendary port's wharf, built entirely from local resources. This stands in contrast to the renowned Ancient Roman concrete known as ‘opus caementicium’, which was made from lime mortar, water, and volcanic ash (pozzolana) and allowed structures to set underwater, contributing to their durability. Roman concrete has been utilised in many iconic structures, including the Pantheon and aqueducts, proving remarkably resilient. We still do not know what form of Indian concrete was used in the wharf at Muziris.
ꦉNumerous metal and lapidary workshops at the site reveal technological skills, creativity, and innovation. According to AMS radiocarbon dating, the Pattanam settlement began around 1000 BCE, which recent studies suggest may correspond to a high point in iron technology—400 years earlier than the earliest record of the Keeladi settlement, near Madurai, which dates to 600 BCE.
♔Let me digress for a moment: What has become of the in-situ museum at the Wharf Complex in Muziris, for which 3 crore rupees were granted by an enlightened Hindi-speaking IAS officer based on a design by an exceptional team of architects from Spain, France, and Australia?
🤪To understand the predicament of the Pattanam site since the multidisciplinary Pattanam Archaeological Research began in 2006 under the Kerala Council for Historical Research, and continued by PAMA several critical questions need to be addressed:
🥃1. Is the Pattanam predicament merely a political conspiracy, and what role has bureaucracy played in this situation?
🍌2. Why has research at Pattanam stagnated for nearly a decade, despite the ASI granting excavation permissions in 2016, 2019, and 2021?
♉3. Which state government imposed a ban on excavations authorized by the ASI on land owned by an autonomous research institute?
𓂃4. What are the responsibilities of a Principal Investigator (PI) in excavations according to the National Policy on Archaeological Exploration and Excavation, as outlined by the 1965 Wheeler Committee’s recommendations? Who has breached these responsibilities?
🦩5. Why were the Muziris Children's Museum and the Interdisciplinary Residential Postgraduate Diploma program at the Pattanam archaeological site closed?
6. Why has the ASI not renewed permits for PAMA, despite the Delhi High Court nullifying its previous order?
﷽7. Who obstructed the $8 million funding from the Palace Museum for the US, German, and Japanese archaeo-science multi-purpose lab equipment at Pattanam, and who diverted the 10 crore rupees allocated for excavations, scholarships, and land purchases from villagers?
⛦8. When did the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) attain and subsequently lose its status as an autonomous academic institution?
ꦏ9. Who in Kerala truly values its rich history, including the continuities, discontinuities, and possible ruptures it represents today?
ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚWe appear to be caught in a mindset where immediate and individuated concerns overshadow every aspect of life, let alone the carefully nurtured, evidence-based narratives of our deep past. This presents a complex conundrum to navigate in the 21st century, marked by our fragmented and siloed identities.
𓆉No single political or ideological group can be solely blamed for this situation. As someone engaged in scientific practice, I advocate for self-reflection rather than deflecting responsibility. I believe that both academic myopia and non-academic influences often lead to frustrating and shortsighted decisions in research governance.
♋Let us come together to preserve Pattanam, a significant site that has been rediscovered and studied two millennia after its loss to humanity. Regardless of our political inclinations, we must resist the temptation to reshape history to meet temporary agendas. Unity is crucial in this endeavour.
