Muziris, in traditional text books, is considered to be a seat of civilization. This site flourished as one of the major ports to the spice trade. It was one of the pivotal points between the East and West trade. The port was very prosperous until it disappeared in the 14th Century. The mystery of India’s ancient port of Muziris has captivated archaeologists for decades. Once at the heart of one of the world’s most influential trading routes, and written about in 2000-year-old Sangam literature, for centuries the port of Muziris was a hub of interaction between south India and Persia, the Middle East, North Africa and the Roman Empire in the Mediterranean. The 2nd Century map of the whole Roman Empire, in which Muziris is marked. So Muziris was a reality and Muziris was a port to which Roman ships were coming. And so they came in search of pepper. Pepper was considered to be equivalent to gold. It was called ‘black gold’. Pepper was such a fascinating item. The overseas traders were ready to take to any risky adventures to go to places for procuring pepper. Once hailed by Roman author Pliney the Elder as ‘the first emporium of India’, Muziris was known for its opulence, frequented by ships carrying spices, gems, ivory and silk. However, suddenly, in the 14th Century, it was no more. Seemingly wiped off the map, the great port of Muziris disappeared without a trace. Some historians argue it fell with the decline of the Roman Empire, others trace it to the devastating floods of Periyar in 1341. To this day, there is still huge debate over Muziris’ true location. In 2006 – 2007 there was excavation started in southern parts, especially in Pattanam, revealing strong trade relations with the Mediterranean and the European countries, which led to the present discovery of the port of Muziris. I, as the director of Pattanam excavation, managed 12 seasons of exactions. So the excavations brought out a huge volume of evidence, which speaks about multicultural character. Nearly 37 cultures belonging to Asia, Europe and Africa. Here from 93 centimeter down we were getting materials from all over the world. We have selected samples for dating but from stratigraphic and typological evidence we feel we are at the peak phase of the Muziris, at this level. The excavations at Pattanam have unearthed many fascinating finds, from gold ornaments, to glass beads, to early Chera coins. In 2020, a rare Roman sphinx seal-ring, similar to the one worn by Augustus Caesar before he became Roman emperor, was discovered at the Pattanam site. You’re getting all these things from a small village like Pattanam and you are not finding it anywhere elese. What does it mean? This helpless little island called Pattanam was an integral part of Muziris. This could be the modern New York or modern Shanghai or Mumbai. However, not all historians are convinced that Pattanam is the true location of the ancient port of Muziris. Historians have been talking about the existence of a civilization on the basis of this fine pottery, wine jars, and garum jars and so on. People immediately concluded that these were the objects imported by the eastern Mediterraneans. Yes, in a way imported, but for their own purpose. You don’t find any of these items penetrating into the interior. I wrote a paper: ‘In search of Muziris’. That was based on a thorough study of the Cranganore area. And then we concluded that it could be somewhere near a tributary and closer to Cranganore. The controversy going on whether Pattam is Muziris or Muziris is Pattanam. Looking at the historical records, Muziris is a very, very large area. So I think the whole area which will cover both sides of the river Periyar could be part of the original Muziris. I strongly believe that much more history is buried bellow the ground. It had trade relationship with many ancient civilizations of the Middle East. Similarly, later all these Portuguese, Dutch and colonial forces also came to the same place. So we had the continuous history of trade. It was following the mysterious disappearance of Muziris in the 14th Century that the port city of Kochi rose to significance as a key centre of trade in this part of India, and to this day Kochi and Muziris continue to share a close connection. In 2012 the Kochi-Muziris Biennale was established as India’s first ever biennial of international contemporary art, aiming to bring together the cosmopolitan spirit of modern Kochi and the mythical past of Muziris as a hub of global culture. Kochi and Muziris used to be receivers all the time. It received not only culture, not only had the trade relationship, but we had all religious components. In a way this is the ideal place I would say, a secular place we could build or come together in this land. That is one of the reason I think you know the Biennale also plays an important role when we bring artists from around the world. Muziris is like mother for us. There is kind of umbilical cord relationship with Muziris and Kochi. Whilst the historical debate over the exact location of Muziris continues to rumble on, the archaeological evidence makes it clear that this part of India was a melting pot of global cultures, exchanging commodities and ideas over centuries. And although India’s ‘first emporium’ may have vanished from the map, its legacy can still be felt today.
