Unveiling Ancient Horizons: NIO’s Underwater Survey to Explore Indo-Roman Trade off Konkan Coast
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The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) has launched an underwater archaeological survey off the Konkan coast to find submerged evidence of ancient Indo-Roman trade. This expedition seeks to bridge gaps in our understanding of early maritime architecture and the socio-cultural exchanges that shaped ancient Indian coastal society.
The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) has embarked on a significant underwater archaeological expedition off the Konkan coast. This survey is designed to identify and document submerged structures that could serve as definitive evidence of the flourishing maritime trade between the Roman Empire and Western India during the early historic period. By exploring the seabed, researchers hope to uncover remains of ancient ports, jetties, and cargo that have been lost to rising sea levels and coastal erosion over millennia.
Historically, the Konkan coast served as a vital maritime gateway. While literary sources like the 'Periplus of the Erythraean Sea' and accounts by Ptolemy highlight the intensity of Indo-Roman commerce—exchanging Indian spices, textiles, and gemstones for Roman gold, wine, and pottery—physical archaeological evidence on the western coast remains fragmented compared to sites like Arikamedu on the eastern coast. This NIO project aims to bridge these gaps, providing a clearer picture of ancient maritime architecture and the engineering prowess of early Indian coastal communities.
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