• Acta Via Serica
• /
• 제4권1호
• /
• pp.25-69
• /
• 2019

India has occupied the most important position of sea trade in the entire South Asian region since the beginning of maritime trade. The extensive maritime trade network between the Harappan and Mesopotamian civilizations as early as the $3^{rd}$ millennium BCE is testimony to the long maritime trade history of India. The Harappans constructed many seaports including the first high-tide dockyard in the world for berthing and servicing ships at the port town of Lothal, Gujarat. From the dawn of the historical epoch, the maritime trade network of India expanded extensively. The long 5422.6 kms coastline of the Indian mainland (excluding the coastlines of the Andaman and Nicobar islands and the Lakshwadweep Islands) is well known for its several seaports manly located at river mouths or outlets to the sea. The main objective of this paper is to discuss in detail all the major ancient seaports on the eastern coast of India and their maritime trade activities. The narrative of these ports is based on archaeological explorations and excavations, foreigners' accounts, Indian literary sources, inscriptions, archival materials, and the field study and personal observation of the author.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제38권3호
• /
• pp.333-341
• /
• 2014

수중부에서의 유물의 분포와 보존은 해류와 조류 등의 유수의 작용에 직접적인 영향을 받을 뿐만 아니라 해저를 구성하는 퇴적물의 조성에 지대한 영향을 받으므로 수중문화재 조사에 있어서 해저부의 표층 퇴적물에 대한 지질학적 특징과 이로부터 해양작용의 특성을 파악하는 것은 매우 중요하다. 본 연구에서는 그랩 채취기와 진동식 시추기를 이용해 퇴적물 시료를 채취하여 해저 퇴적물의 물성을 파악하였으며, 이를 통하여 해저환경이 수중문화재 탐사기법 개발에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 하였다. 해저 퇴적물 주상시료에 대해 물성분석 결과 밀도, 전단강도, 대자율 등은 깊이에 따라 증가하는 경향을 보였으며, 함수율, 공극률 등은 감소하는 경향을 보였다. 주변암석의 대자율이 퇴적물의 대자율에 비해 약 40배 이상 크게 나타나 자력탐사에 큰 영향을 끼치는 것으로 생각된다. 깊이에 따른 물성 변화와 Fol's 분류표에 의해 퇴적물의 유형을 분류한 자료를 분석 했을 때 해저퇴적물은 주로 실트로 구성되어 있으며, 유물은 해저면에서 깊이 1.5 m 이상 침투하지 못하는 것으로 나타났다.

• Acta Via Serica
• /
• 제9권1호
• /
• pp.67-90
• /
• 2024

India, Southeast Asia in general, and Siam in particular share a long history of cultural and commercial relations. Located in each other's extended neighbourhood, India and Thailand have a shared maritime boundary in the Andaman Sea. Situated in the strategic position, midway between West Asia on the one hand and East Asia on the other, India and Siam combined played a significant role in the maritime transactions in Asia and beyond. The geographical proximity between India and Siam led to multifaceted maritime interactions and exchanges. Siam was in the Indian sphere of cultural, religious, philosophical, technical, and linguistic influence much before the Common Era. The cultural and mercantile networks between India and Siam are well-attested by archaeological and literary sources. The archaeological findings in Siam and other Southeast Asian countries have revealed the dynamic trade and cultural exchange between India and Southeast Asia since the pre-Common Era. The Takola (modern Takua Pa) area served as a more suitable landing place for Indian merchants and there existed the settlement of the Indian mercantile community. Ligor (Nakhon Si Thammarat), Jaya (Chaiya), Patalung (Phatalung), U Thong, Ban Don Tha Pet, Ban U Taphao, Khao Sam Kaeo, and many other sites in Siam have brought to light a large variety of objects which demonstrate that ancient Siam had close mercantile contact with India as well as the Mediterranean world and China. The paper discusses in detail the cultural and trade links between India and Siam and their impact on the Maritime Silk Road.

• Acta Via Serica
• /
• 제3권2호
• /
• pp.49-72
• /
• 2018

The extensive maritime trade network between the Harappan and Mesopotamian civilizations as early as the $3^{rd}$ millennium BCE is a testimony to the long maritime trade history of India. From the dawn of the historical epoch, the maritime trade network of India expanded extensively. The findings of a large number of coins, pottery, amphorae and other materials from Italy and various other European countries, west Asia, China, Korea, Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia and Far-East countries in India, particularly in the coastal regions, are a testimony to the dynamic maritime trade of India with other countries in the early period. Similarly, pottery, sculptures, inscriptions and other materials of Indian origin are also found in those countries. The depiction of different types of ships on the coins, paintings, sculptures, seals and sealing, exhibit the variety of vessels used for navigation and other purposes in the early period. The over 7500 km-long coastline of India is well known for its seaports located at river mouths or outlets to the sea. The Periplus Maris Erythraei, Ptolemy, and Indian literary sources mention many seaports on the western coast of India. Interestingly, archaeological investigations in many of these port towns have yielded material evidence exhibiting their dominant role in transoceanic trade and commerce with many countries in the early period. This paper discusses in detail all the major ancient seaports on the western coast of India and their maritime trade activities. At the outset, the paper briefly deals with the Harappan's maritime network, their seaports and the type of ships of that period. Following this, the maritime trade network of India during the historical period with various countries in the east and west, the traces of Indian influence and materials abroad and foreign materials found in India, the products exported from India, the trade winds and navigational devices and the depiction of ships on the coins, paintings, and sculptures of the period are discussed in detail. After briefly highlighting the coastline of India and its favourable nature for safe anchorage of ships and the strategic position of the seaports of western India, an extensive account of the major ancient seaports of western India like Barygaza, Ashtacampra, Gundigar, Kammoni, Khambhat, Bardaxema, Suparaka, Calliena, Semylla, Sanjan, Naura, Tyndis, Muziris, Nelcynda and other seaports, and their maritime trade activities are given based on archaeological excavations and explorations, literature, epigraphy, foreign accounts, and numismatic evidence.

• Acta Via Serica
• /
• 제6권2호
• /
• pp.91-116
• /
• 2021

India has had a rich and diverse textile tradition since the 3rd millennium BCE. The origin of Indian textiles can be traced back to the Harappan period. Owing to the hot and humid climate in most parts of India, cotton has remained India's favourite choice of fabric for normal use. Thus, India is supposed to be the first nation to have grown, woven, and patterned cotton fabrics. Moreover, India is one of the leading cotton-growing countries in the world. The earliest occurrence of cotton thread in India is roughly datable to 4000 BCE and of dyed fabrics to about 2500 BCE. Large numbers of needles and spindle-whorls found in Harappa and other early historic sites in India reveal the prosperous state of textile production and its trade in the early period. The textile producers used a wide range of skills to process raw materials and make regionally idiosyncratic dyes, weaves, prints, and embroideries. Additionally, the silk from wild indigenous forms of silkworms was known in the Indian sub-continent roughly contemporary with the earliest clear archaeological evidence for silk in China. The analysis of thread fragments found inside a copper bangle and ornament from Harappa and steatite beads from Chanhu-daro, have yielded silk fibers dating to 2500-2000 BCE. Apart from other products, cotton and silk textiles were important export materials from India right from the Harappan period. Actually, the sea-borne trade had played an important role in the economic growth and prosperity of the Harappan civilization. Several ancient seaports in the entire coastline of India played a vital role in the maritime trade during the Harappan period and cotton and silk textiles of Indian origin have been found in various countries. The contemporary writings and epigraphy have also attested to the vast maritime trade network of India and the export of textile materials. The paper discusses in detail the origin and development of cotton and silk textile production in India through the ages and its role in maritime trade networks.

• Acta Via Serica
• /
• 제9권1호
• /
• pp.33-66
• /
• 2024

There is a lot of evidence of early port cities and small habitation sites along the Thai-Malay Peninsula's coastlines. These sites appeared on the trans-peninsular routes during the Maritime Silk Roads period, from 2,000 to 1,500 BP. The Thai-Malay Peninsula was mentioned in many documents as Suvarnabhumi (India), Aurea Chersonese (Greek), and Jin Lin (Chinese), meaning the Golden Land. Ptolemy's map displays that there were many port cities along this peninsula. It corresponds to the Milinda-panha, which depicts many port cities in Suvarnabhumi. Foreign documents primarily documented the presence of major port cities, while inland habitation sites received less recognition. This paper aims to reconstruct the trans-peninsular routes in order to understand their networks, connections, and roles. The second aim is to understand the hierarchy of each site. This paper will focus on two important settlements and high-value artifacts along three routes: the Kra Isthmus Route, the Pho Khao Thong and Tha Chana Route, and the Krabi to Surat Thani Route. I conducted an archaeological survey of these three routes and others during 2021-2023 under the Suvarnabhumi Studies Center, TASSHA Institute, and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation.