Question

Write a short note on Arikamedu.

Answer 1

Hint: Arikamedu was the trade centre during the times of ancient Roman. It is located 6 km in south of Puducherry on the right bank of the Ariyankuppam River. Evidence revealed that the port town was inhabited by Romans, Cholas and French.

Complete answer:
Arikamedu is located at the mouth of the Ariyankuppam River, and its name is derived from the Tamil word ‘Arikamedu’. Archaeologists named the site Arikamedu, which actually means “Eroding Mount''. Evidence has been unearthed in the port town which revealed that it was inhabited by Romans, Cholas and French.

Arikamedu was a flourishing port town during ancient Roman times and is located about 6 km south of Puducherry. Relics of the port which was a primary maritime centre between the 1st century BC and the 2nd century AD have been discovered during excavations.

Initially, Arikamedu was a fishing village but soon the village was replaced by a brick-built harbour town due to the development of trade. Today, only the remains of the once-thriving port town could be found here. Besides maritime commerce, it also took part in inland trade with Kaveripattinam, Alagankulam, Musiri and Suttukeni as suggested by the evidence unearthed along river valley routes.

Initial excavation of Arikamedu took place in the 1940s and since then various excavations have been carried out. “Sir Mortimer Wheeler’s” establishment was the most favourite amongst all the attempts. He suggested that the city's northern part was more harbour oriented, while its southern part was the industrial town. His excavations also revealed that before the arrival of the Romans, the city of Arikamedu was a “sleepy fishing village”, and later when they departed, the Chola, Pallava and Vijayanagara dynasties.

Note: The glass bead manufacturing facility at Arikamedu was considered the “mother of all bead centres” in the world. Currently, the town does not have much except the perpendicular walls that were laid open and the French Jesuit Mission House – which was built in the 18th century.