Pottery production and trades in Tamil Nadu region: new insights from Alagankulam and Keeladi excavation sites

E Odelli,S Legnaioli,J Perumal,V Palleschi,T Selvaraj,S Raneri

doi:10.1186/s40494-020-00402-2

Abstract

This research is part of a wider scientific Italian-Indo project finalised to shed lights on pottery fabrication and trade circulation in Tamil Nadu region during Early Historical Period. The recent archaeological excavations carried out in Alagankulam—a famous harbour trading with the eastern and western world—and in Keeladi—the most ancient civilization centre attested in Tamil Nadu region—provided numerous fragments of archaeological ceramics. The typological analysis enabled the identification of different pottery classes, suggesting the presence of local productions, possible imports and imitations. Studied shards included common Indian vessels, fine wares and luxury ware repertoire. The provenance identification of some of the studied typologies is still debated in the literature; for long time, the misattribution of several ceramic classes has led to wrong interpretations on the commercial connections between India and the Western and Eastern Mediterranean area. The minero-petrographic and spectroscopic investigation of several ceramic fragments from the two investigated archaeological sites enabled the systematic compositional characterization of specific ceramic classes both locally manufactured and imported. The obtained results contributed to draw short-range and long-range connections in Tamil Nadu area.

Highlights

Potteries represent one of the most useful archaeological artifacts in reconstructing human activity in the past
This study aims to enlarge knowledge on pottery fabrication and trade circulation in Tamil Nadu region by analysing potteries from the Alagankulam and Keeladi sites
The fragments selected from the Alagankulam corpus are representative of the different table ware typologies found in the excavation; they consist in black rouletted ware (RW, A15), sigillata ware (A16), grey ware (GW, A17), black ware (BW, A18), red roulette ware (RW, A19), red ware (RDW, A20), black-and-red ware (BRW, A21), northern black polished ware (NBPW, A22)

Summary

Introduction

Potteries represent one of the most useful archaeological artifacts in reconstructing human activity in the past. Being part of daily use, potteries can support the interpretation of dynamics related to trade, manufacture routines, cultural identity and artistic traditions. The analysis of ceramic fabric, the characterization of clay composition and of the decorations (if present) can be used to locate production centers, indicate manufacture routines, interpret the progress of technology and the modes of consumption of a site [1,2,3]. Provenance studies can contribute to the reconstruction of trade routes in ancient areas; this is relevant in studying harbour cities, where commercial contacts and social activities promoted the commercialization of goods and cultural exchanges [6]. Recent archaeological excavations carried out in Tamil Nadu region enabled to explore new structures and archaeological records in this famous city; the first settlement of the ancient civilization in Tamil Nadu-the Keeladi villagewas discovered and explored in the proximity of the Vaigai River

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Conclusion