Arikamedu

Worlds Apart Trading Together sets out to replace the outdated notion of ‘Indo-Roman trade’ with a more informed perspective integrating the new findings of the last 30 years. In order to accomplish this, a perspective focusing on concrete demand from the ground up is adopted, also shedding light on the role of the market in long-distance exchange. Accordingly, the analysis conducted demonstrates that an economically highly substantial trade took place between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean in the 1st–6th cen. CE, altering patterns of consumption and modes of production in both India, South Arabia and the Roman Empire. Significantly, it can be documented that this trade was organised at the centres of demand and supply, in Rome and India, respectively, by comparable urban associations, the transport in-between being handled by equally well-organised private networks and diasporas of seagoing merchants. Consequently, this study concludes that the institution of the market in Antiquity was able to facilitate trade over very long distances, acting on a scale which had a characteristic impact on the economies of the societies involved, their economic structures converging by adapting to trade and the market.
NB: See uploaded addenda in paper below 'Worlds Apart Trading Together – addenda'
Available reviews:
—J. Simmons in Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2018.09.59 (http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2018/2018-09-59.html).
—R. Tomber in Journal of Roman Archaeology 31, II (2018): 948–52.

Reg:3090/2016.
Arikamedu was one of the famous port in Ancient period. In ancient time year 200 B.C – A.D.400. Arikamedu was known as bead making site in India. In 1945 Wheeler & Casal were excavated the site of arikamedu from their he found the Mini sculpture of Terracotta Ganesh object in the French excavation. Recently in 2013 one more Mini Sculpture of Terracotta Ganesh object were founded in the river of Arikamedu.

Arikamedu is one of the most important early historic ports on the East Coast of India. Arikamedu excavations and explorations have shown evidence of maritime contacts between India and the Roman and Southeast Asian countries as early as the third century BCE. Recently, fresh explorations at Alagankulam, Karaikaddu, Suttukeni, Keeladi, including Arikamedu on the Tamil Nadu coast were carried out wherein rouletted ware (RW), beads and other artefacts were recovered. Among the artefacts, the most notable finding is of a miniature stone sculpture of Ganesh on the left or right bank of the Ariyankuppam River. This article discusses the analysis conducted on the the rock sample of the Ganesh sculpture using the non-invasive XRD and EPMA instruments to understand the composition and probable provenance of the rock; and outline the importance of analysing pottery to understand its role in maritime trade.

The aim of this thesis is the reconstruction of Early Historic networks in South Asia and beyond. The methodology engaged focusses on image analysis techniques being applied to two South Asian ceramics, Arikamedu Type 1 (also referred to as Rouletted Ware) and Arikamedu Type 10. The secondary aim of this thesis is to identify and investigate stylistic variances across these ceramics within the spatial and temporal boundaries of this research.

The two ceramics in this study were initially recorded at Arikamedu, South India in the excavations led by Sir Mortimer Wheeler (Wheeler et al. 1946). The majority of the previous research has focused on the physical aspects of the ceramics in an attempt to provenance the types, for example thin section analysis by Krishnan & Coningham (1997) and chemical analysis by Ford et al. (2005), however, confirmation of the provenance has not been achieved.

This thesis focuses on the decorative features of the ceramics for analysis and interpretation. The data extracted will, on interpretation, aim to demonstrate the spatial and temporal variances within Rouletted Ware and Arikamedu Type 10, and allow the proposal of networks in the Indian Ocean and beyond, during the South Asian Early Historic period