Two Kilometres Off TN Coast, A Lost World Emerges From The Sea

Gist The Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology, during its third phase of underwater exploration, has discovered structural formations and West Asian pottery fragments off the coast of Poompuhar. Resting beneath the Bay of Bengal, these findings provide concrete material evidence of the transoceanic maritime trade previously only described in ancient Tamil literature. For civil services aspirants, this development bridges Sangam-era literary accounts with archaeological proof, illustrating the scale of India's ancient maritime networks and the historical geography of submerged port cities. Background Poompuhar , historically known as Kaveripoompattinam , served as a celebrated and prosperous port city of the early Chola dynasty. Ancient Tamil literature frequently described it as a cosmopolitan hub with bustling maritime trade and foreign settlements, but much of the ancient city was subsequently lost to the sea, making physical reconstruction difficult. To map the extent of this ancient port, study sea-level changes, trace the course of the Cauvery river, and locate shipwrecks, the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology partnered with the Indian Maritime University for a dedicated underwater archaeology project. Prior to this offshore…