Interpreting the Underwater Data and Revealing the Historic Submerged Port –Poompuhar

Abstract

Ancient Ports played an important role in overseas trade and also thereby spreading of Dravidian cultural to vast areas. Majority of the rivers of India and their distributaries are suitable for navigation and ports developed along the estuarine mouths.one such port is Poompuhar which is located in mouth of river Cauvery. This city is said to have been swallowed by sea. Many sangam literature has described about this important chola mandala port as a busy overseas trade centre. Since there is sudden extinction of this port, this paper deals with various inshore and offshore findings and thereby by confirms that the Dravidian rich cultural heritage port has been partly submerged under the sea. Also through this it has been confirmed that the ancient seafarers had a knowledge of how to construct docks, wharfs, reservoirs and buildings at various port cities. Monsoon also plays an important role in the daily life of the people of South Asia. Use of the monsoon wind in the Indian Ocean for maritime trade was a boon to sailing ships to reach overseas countries. Archaeological and historical evidence indicates that Poompuhar is one of the oldest port and icon to Dravidian civilisation.