Scientists have uncovered evidence that strengthens the belief that the Indian port city of Pattanam, located on the South-Western coast in Kerala's Ernakulam district, played a significant role in cultural and trade exchanges between India and the Middle East. The findings are based on archaeological research and ancient DNA analyses led by the chief scientist at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Kumarasamy Thangaraj, and PJ Cherian.
The archaeological site at Pattanam is believed to be part of the ancient port city of the Muziris, with historians considering the city to have played a vital role in trade and cultural exchanges between India and the Middle East, North Africa, and the Mediterranean regions. The belief is supported by classical Greco-Roman records, as well as Tamil and Sanskrit sources.
At the Pattanam Archaeological Site, scientists and archaeologists have discovered various items, including human bones, storage jars, a gold ornament, glass and stone beads, pottery, early Chera coins, and utilitarian objects made of stone, copper, and iron. The site's excavations suggest that it was first occupied by indigenous "Megalithic" people in the Iron Age, followed by Roman contact in the Early Historic Period. The site appears to have been continuously occupied from at least the 2nd century BC to the 10th century AD, indicating a vast "urban" settlement.
Scientists used DNA from human skeletons to pinpoint the genetic ancestry of the people found in the region. The analysis found that the samples showed the presence of both South Asian and West Eurasian-specific lineages, indicating continuous inflow of traders and multicultural mixing in ancient South India. The harsh climatic conditions of India are not always favorable for ancient DNA research, but the team successfully analyzed the fragile skeletal remains using best practices in the field of ancient DNA.
According to Vinay Kumar Nandicoori, Director of CCMB, these findings, the first genetic data generated so far, reinforce the early historical occupation of culturally, religiously, and ethnically diverse groups at the Pattanam Archaeological Site. The research had been published in the journal Genes
