To reinstate the historical and cultural significance of the legendary port of Muziris, the Government of Kerala has initiated the Muziris Heritage Project. Today, the region is dotted with numerous monuments of a bygone era that conjure up a vast and vivid past. The entire project is designed to involve and integrate the local community in all intended developmental initiatives.
The Muziris Heritage Site (MHS) stretches across from the municipality of North Paravur in Ernakulam district to that of Kodungalloor in Thrissur district. It includes four panchayats in Ernakulam district viz. Chennamangalam, Chittatukara, Vadakekkara, Pallippuram, and three panchayats in Thrissur district viz. Eriyad, Mathilakam and Sreenarayanapuram.
Project highlights
The Kerala State Government has launched a Muziris Heritage Project together with the Union Government and local-self-government bodies. This is a peoples’ movement. All Keralites have a role to play in this venture; especially those residing in the municipalities and panchayats in the project area of Muziris.
Project area
The historical studies and excavations reveal that Muziris, an old port town was situated in the present day region of Kodungalloor and Paravoor.
The first phase of the Muziris Heritage Project covers two municipalities viz. Kodungalloor and Paravoor and eight panchayats viz. Chendamangalam, Chittattinkara, Vadakkekara, Pallippuram, S.N.Puram, Eriad and Methala. More areas will be included in the next phase.
Project aims
To invigorate the research studies and to enlarge the scope of knowledge about the cultural heritage of Muziris for the benefit of the people is the main objective of this heritage project. By continuing the scientific study on Muziris, both students and the common people will have an opportunity to know more about their cultural heritage. Since this is an era of globalization, such awareness about ones culture is essential for both the young and the aged. There would be ample opportunities for students and researchers; both native and foreign in the project area to carry out independent studies and to know more about the cultural heritage of Kerala, which in turn would make Muziris a zone for gaining and dissemination of knowledge.
Muziris was a major financial centre and seaport according to historical records. Ancient papyrus records show that the Muziris trade dated around 2000 years back when black pepper and other aromatic spices were exported to Rome from Muziris via Egypt. In those times the world’s attention fell on Muziris when it excelled in business, farming, fishing, education and craftworks. The ongoing Muziris heritage project seeks to recreate this scenario.
With the help of modern techniques, it is possible to recreate contemporarily the various ancient jobs and resources. The barter systems of trade, festivals, craftworks, cuisine, abodes and even transport have Muziris models. To highlight the then socio-economic welfare models, those systems should be recreated and presented again.
The future plans for Muziris zone will be envisaged without any tampering of its rich bio-diversity, strong social structure and healthy ecosystem along with the cohesion of the present day society. This would be the novelty of this project. The devotional centers and the historical monuments around the Muziris zone should be preserved scientifically. They must be presented as a perfect example of the multifarious culture and religious harmony within the present state of Kerala.
The heritage of Kodungalloor Gurukulam and the progressive views of renaissance leaders like Sahodaran Ayyappan, Abdurahman Sahib and Kesari Balakrishna Pillai would be presented through the Muziris Heritage Project. The Muziris zone is famous for its classical and folk arts. Literature and music in this zone also has its own specialties. The cultural activities, which flourished by the re-creation of life should be preserved for the future. And this project would also present the cultural expression of various groups including women and other backward sections of society.
Project implementation
Waterways were once the main means of transportation in the project are of Muziris. There are records indicating various small boats, rice barges and huge merchant ships and warships that once plied the waterways of Muziris. Since these inland waterways are still navigable, they need to be preserved and used again to regain the elegance of Muziris. These waterways will be maintained in good condition for the travelers to reach places in Muziris. To reach various historical monuments, small roads are also needed.
Very old buildings in the project area will be preserved by renovating them with peoples’ participation. The project area will be transformed to a waste-free-zone. It is expected that a large chunk of the population will participate in this project to collect historical objects and unearth the interesting facts revealed by such artifacts.
What are the historical objects?
Anything which tells the story of our heritage is a historical object. These include household articles, farming equipments, weapons, plates, coins, toys, clothes, pictures and numerous other objects. With the help of scientific excavations the remains of heritage can be unearthed. The local lores, folk stories, myths and various folk arts tell us stories about the bygone era. The Muziris heritage project gives importance for such excavations. For the collection of such artifacts, around 100 dedicated volunteers have been working in the Muziris zone. We look forward to all of you to help them in collecting the artifacts.
The members will be meeting you ‘to know and to inform.’ The project authorities will receive the historical objects in the presence of municipal and panchayat authorities. Each artifact handed over would be provided with receipt. We hope the historically significant buildings bequeathed as the part of this project can be preserved as museums. We plan to set up around twenty-five museums in the project area. We are grateful to the building owners who are ready to provide to us historically significant buildings. And we do look forward to more such spaces.
Discussions and researches related to the conservation of the museums are going on with the participation of museum enthusiasts, historians, communication experts and cultural researchers. For the purpose, various expert committees have been organized to function in the Muziris heritage zone. The public is welcome to give suggestions and advice, if any, to the officials concerned or to the dedicated volunteers.
We look forward to the co-operation and valuable suggestions from everyone interested.
Pattanam Excavations
There has always been a lot of confusion about the exact location of the port and for long was considered to be at Kodungalloor. However, in 1983, a large hoard of Roman coins was found at a site around six miles from a place called Pattanam. The site covers 1.5 sq. km and the core area, about 600 x 400 m. The region was first inhabited by the indigenous “Megalithic” [Iron Age] people, in the 2nd Century B.C., followed by the Romans in the 10th Century A.D.
Important finds from Pattanam include:
Important finds from Pattanam include human bones, storage jars, a gold ornament, glass beads, stone beads, a six meter long wooden canoe, objects made of stone, copper and iron, typical pottery, early Chera coins, brick wall and brick platform.
Kottapuram Excavations
The recent archaeological work done in the area has unearthed a Portuguese Fort and numerous remnants of other past cultures.
Kottapuram findings
Chinese ware, red slipped ware other pottery artifacts and iron objects.
In 1662 the Dutch fleet had made an attempt to capture this fort from the Portuguese, but that invasion was successful only in 1663. It was a heavy fight, in which the Kottapuram Fort was severely damaged. After taking over the Fort, the Dutch demolished it to the minimum and used it as an out-house to guard their trade ships. The ruins of the original Fort show that its walls were 18 feet thick and were made of Laterite. The Archaeology department has started the excavation and has unearthed quite a few remnants of history as well as the fort walls and layout
The site at Pattanam covers approximately 1.5 sq. km and the core area measures about 600 x 400 m. The north-eastern part of the site was chosen for excavation based on the surface exploration undertaken earlier. The "locus methodology" adopted for this excavation distinguished each layer/feature/pit/structure/ activity area on the basis of color, texture and composition.
Many important finds were obtained like human bones, storage jars, a gold ornament, glass beads, stone beads, utilitarian objects made of stone, copper and iron, typical pottery, early Chera coins, brick wall, brick platform, ring well, wharf with bollards, and a six meter long wooden canoe parallel to the wharf structure about 2.5 m. below surface level.
The structures indicate a vast 'urban' settlement. The excavations suggest that the site was first occupied by the indigenous “Megalithic” (Iron Age) people, followed by the Roman contact in the Early Historic Period. It appears that the site was continuously occupied at least from the 2nd.century BC to the 10th century AD. The maritime contacts of this region during the Early Historic period seem to have been extensive as evidenced by the large number of Roman amphora shreds, a few terra sigillata shreds, Sassanian, Yemenite and other West Asian potteries. Proliferation of roulette ware probably made in the Bengal-Gangetic region signifies the site's importance in the pan Indian context as well.
Lifestyle
Visitors can witness and experience the unique lifestyle of the community. Fishing is the major livelihood in this region. There are many different types of boats and fishing nets used by the people
The Muziris Heritage Site (MHS) stretches across from the municipality of North Paravur in Ernakulam district to that of Kodungalloor in Thrissur district. It includes four panchayats in Ernakulam district viz. Chennamangalam, Chittatukara, Vadakekkara, Pallippuram, and three panchayats in Thrissur district viz. Eriyad, Mathilakam and Sreenarayanapuram.
Project highlights
- The largest heritage conservation project in India
- The first Green Project of the Government of Kerala
- Involvement of multiple Government Departments and convergence
- More than 25 museums to appreciate the Muziris Heritage
- A research and academic institution to support the project
- Major improvements in infrastructure
- Integration with local communities through native resource persons for data collection, survey etc.
- To promote awareness and understanding of the cultural distinctiveness and diversity of Muziris
- To conserve cultural assets and safeguard them for the present and future generations
- To practice and promote sustainable development
- To promote participative approach towards conservation and restoration
- To ensure accessibility for all
- To include the heritage of Muziris in regional educational programmes
- To integrate and heritage management for mutual synergy
Overview
Muziris is the most significant of names in the history of Kerala. Known to Romans and Greeks as Muziris, this port town is mentioned in Indian classics including the Sangham literature. Later the rulers, businessmen, religious groups and artistes added more strength and fame to Muziris. The major communities that are part of the history of Muziris are Adicheras, Perumakkal, Swarupas and various colonizers. The Kerala State Government has launched a Muziris Heritage Project together with the Union Government and local-self-government bodies. This is a peoples’ movement. All Keralites have a role to play in this venture; especially those residing in the municipalities and panchayats in the project area of Muziris.
Project area
The historical studies and excavations reveal that Muziris, an old port town was situated in the present day region of Kodungalloor and Paravoor.
The first phase of the Muziris Heritage Project covers two municipalities viz. Kodungalloor and Paravoor and eight panchayats viz. Chendamangalam, Chittattinkara, Vadakkekara, Pallippuram, S.N.Puram, Eriad and Methala. More areas will be included in the next phase.
Project aims
To invigorate the research studies and to enlarge the scope of knowledge about the cultural heritage of Muziris for the benefit of the people is the main objective of this heritage project. By continuing the scientific study on Muziris, both students and the common people will have an opportunity to know more about their cultural heritage. Since this is an era of globalization, such awareness about ones culture is essential for both the young and the aged. There would be ample opportunities for students and researchers; both native and foreign in the project area to carry out independent studies and to know more about the cultural heritage of Kerala, which in turn would make Muziris a zone for gaining and dissemination of knowledge.
Muziris was a major financial centre and seaport according to historical records. Ancient papyrus records show that the Muziris trade dated around 2000 years back when black pepper and other aromatic spices were exported to Rome from Muziris via Egypt. In those times the world’s attention fell on Muziris when it excelled in business, farming, fishing, education and craftworks. The ongoing Muziris heritage project seeks to recreate this scenario.
With the help of modern techniques, it is possible to recreate contemporarily the various ancient jobs and resources. The barter systems of trade, festivals, craftworks, cuisine, abodes and even transport have Muziris models. To highlight the then socio-economic welfare models, those systems should be recreated and presented again.
The future plans for Muziris zone will be envisaged without any tampering of its rich bio-diversity, strong social structure and healthy ecosystem along with the cohesion of the present day society. This would be the novelty of this project. The devotional centers and the historical monuments around the Muziris zone should be preserved scientifically. They must be presented as a perfect example of the multifarious culture and religious harmony within the present state of Kerala.
The heritage of Kodungalloor Gurukulam and the progressive views of renaissance leaders like Sahodaran Ayyappan, Abdurahman Sahib and Kesari Balakrishna Pillai would be presented through the Muziris Heritage Project. The Muziris zone is famous for its classical and folk arts. Literature and music in this zone also has its own specialties. The cultural activities, which flourished by the re-creation of life should be preserved for the future. And this project would also present the cultural expression of various groups including women and other backward sections of society.
Project implementation
Waterways were once the main means of transportation in the project are of Muziris. There are records indicating various small boats, rice barges and huge merchant ships and warships that once plied the waterways of Muziris. Since these inland waterways are still navigable, they need to be preserved and used again to regain the elegance of Muziris. These waterways will be maintained in good condition for the travelers to reach places in Muziris. To reach various historical monuments, small roads are also needed.
Very old buildings in the project area will be preserved by renovating them with peoples’ participation. The project area will be transformed to a waste-free-zone. It is expected that a large chunk of the population will participate in this project to collect historical objects and unearth the interesting facts revealed by such artifacts.
What are the historical objects?
Anything which tells the story of our heritage is a historical object. These include household articles, farming equipments, weapons, plates, coins, toys, clothes, pictures and numerous other objects. With the help of scientific excavations the remains of heritage can be unearthed. The local lores, folk stories, myths and various folk arts tell us stories about the bygone era. The Muziris heritage project gives importance for such excavations. For the collection of such artifacts, around 100 dedicated volunteers have been working in the Muziris zone. We look forward to all of you to help them in collecting the artifacts.
The members will be meeting you ‘to know and to inform.’ The project authorities will receive the historical objects in the presence of municipal and panchayat authorities. Each artifact handed over would be provided with receipt. We hope the historically significant buildings bequeathed as the part of this project can be preserved as museums. We plan to set up around twenty-five museums in the project area. We are grateful to the building owners who are ready to provide to us historically significant buildings. And we do look forward to more such spaces.
Discussions and researches related to the conservation of the museums are going on with the participation of museum enthusiasts, historians, communication experts and cultural researchers. For the purpose, various expert committees have been organized to function in the Muziris heritage zone. The public is welcome to give suggestions and advice, if any, to the officials concerned or to the dedicated volunteers.
We look forward to the co-operation and valuable suggestions from everyone interested.
History
Muziris is reputed to be the ancient world’s greatest trading centre in the East. As the focal point of commerce for over 2500 years, this bustling seaport traded in everything from spices to precious stones with the Greeks, Romans and the rest of the world. It was also the doorway to India for varied cultures and races: Buddhists, Arabs, Chinese, Jews, Romans, Portuguese, Dutch and even the British.Pattanam Excavations
There has always been a lot of confusion about the exact location of the port and for long was considered to be at Kodungalloor. However, in 1983, a large hoard of Roman coins was found at a site around six miles from a place called Pattanam. The site covers 1.5 sq. km and the core area, about 600 x 400 m. The region was first inhabited by the indigenous “Megalithic” [Iron Age] people, in the 2nd Century B.C., followed by the Romans in the 10th Century A.D.
Important finds from Pattanam include:
Important finds from Pattanam include human bones, storage jars, a gold ornament, glass beads, stone beads, a six meter long wooden canoe, objects made of stone, copper and iron, typical pottery, early Chera coins, brick wall and brick platform.
Kottapuram Excavations
The recent archaeological work done in the area has unearthed a Portuguese Fort and numerous remnants of other past cultures.
Kottapuram findings
Chinese ware, red slipped ware other pottery artifacts and iron objects.
Kottapuram Fort
Kottapuram Fort, built by the Portuguese in 1523 was referred to popularly as Cranganore Fort and is now known as Kodungallur Fort. It was captured and destroyed by the Dutch in 1663. The Fort had a strategic position, on the mouth of the river Periyar, before it joins the Arabian Sea, which gave it the advantage of controlling the ships and boats that passed to and from the interior of Malabar. The town developed from just this fort. In 1662 the Dutch fleet had made an attempt to capture this fort from the Portuguese, but that invasion was successful only in 1663. It was a heavy fight, in which the Kottapuram Fort was severely damaged. After taking over the Fort, the Dutch demolished it to the minimum and used it as an out-house to guard their trade ships. The ruins of the original Fort show that its walls were 18 feet thick and were made of Laterite. The Archaeology department has started the excavation and has unearthed quite a few remnants of history as well as the fort walls and layout
Pattanam
The Pattanam excavations were the first ever multi-disciplinary excavations undertaken in Kerala State. The main objective of the excavation was to search for archaeological evidence that would help to locate/identify an early historic urban settlement and the ancient Indo-Roman port of Muziris or Musiri on the Malabar CoastThe site at Pattanam covers approximately 1.5 sq. km and the core area measures about 600 x 400 m. The north-eastern part of the site was chosen for excavation based on the surface exploration undertaken earlier. The "locus methodology" adopted for this excavation distinguished each layer/feature/pit/structure/ activity area on the basis of color, texture and composition.
Many important finds were obtained like human bones, storage jars, a gold ornament, glass beads, stone beads, utilitarian objects made of stone, copper and iron, typical pottery, early Chera coins, brick wall, brick platform, ring well, wharf with bollards, and a six meter long wooden canoe parallel to the wharf structure about 2.5 m. below surface level.
The structures indicate a vast 'urban' settlement. The excavations suggest that the site was first occupied by the indigenous “Megalithic” (Iron Age) people, followed by the Roman contact in the Early Historic Period. It appears that the site was continuously occupied at least from the 2nd.century BC to the 10th century AD. The maritime contacts of this region during the Early Historic period seem to have been extensive as evidenced by the large number of Roman amphora shreds, a few terra sigillata shreds, Sassanian, Yemenite and other West Asian potteries. Proliferation of roulette ware probably made in the Bengal-Gangetic region signifies the site's importance in the pan Indian context as well.
Land
The Muziris Heritage Project encompasses monuments, archaeological sites and the very landscape that illustrates a significant era in the history of Kerala. The evolution of the Muziris Heritage Site has been greatly influenced by its natural environment. For instance the network of waterways has inspired the unique style of architecture, which complements the panoramic views.Lifestyle
Visitors can witness and experience the unique lifestyle of the community. Fishing is the major livelihood in this region. There are many different types of boats and fishing nets used by the people
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