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An expert eye on Pattanam pottery

Staff Reporter

Artefacts could be of 18th or 19th Century, says Japanese professor

Photo: S. Mahinsha

By the look of it…: Prof: Noburu Karashima of University of Tokyo viewing the artefacts collected from Pattanam at the Kerala Council for Historical Research office in the city on Thursday. KCHR Director P.J. Cherian and Chairman K.N. Panikkar look on.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The pieces of Chinese pottery unearthed by the Kerala Council for Historical Research from Pattanam may be from the 18th or 19th centuries, professor emeritus of the University of Tokyo Noburu Karashima has said.

This observation made by Prof. Karashima on Thursday after inspecting the pottery pieces at the KCHR office here assumes significance given that there is no evidence to show that there was human habitation in Pattanam between the 10th century and the 18th century. There is evidence to show that there was human habitation here between the second century BC and the tenth century AD. Human habitation may have recommenced at Pattanam after the arrival of the Europeans in India, a press note issued by the KCHR here said.

Prof. Karashima also pointed out to the KCHR chairman K. N. Panikkar and director P. J. Cherian that no artefacts of the ‘celedon’ variety were present among the material excavated from Pattanam. More than 200 pieces of Roman earthenware, 98-odd West Asian-Islamic era earthenware, 350 rouletted-ware and 34 pieces of Chinese pottery were found at Pattanam.

Prof. Karashima also said that he would show pictures of the pottery pieces to experts back in Japan so that the artefacts can be conclusively dated.

Earlier, Prof. Karashima delivered a talk on ‘Medieval Commercial Activities in the Indian Ocean as Revealed from Chinese Sherds and South Indian and Sri Lankan Inscriptions.’

Trading in south India was very brisk between the 10th century and 15th century under the leadership of groups such as ‘Manigramam.’ Evidence for this is available in the form of inscriptions and pieces of Chinese pottery at various locations between China and Arabia. Much before the arrival of the European the Indian Ocean was heavily trafficked by traders Chinese and Arab traders, he added.

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