The paper is intended for session 26, titled "Early Coins from Kerala: Situating the trade networks with special reference to Pattanam." The research problem of the paper is to understand the distribution of coins and their role in... more
The paper is intended for session 26, titled "Early Coins from Kerala: Situating the trade networks with special reference to Pattanam." The research problem of the paper is to understand the distribution of coins and their role in understanding the trade network. The study would be based on the catalogue of coins from Kerala. Kerala, being known for its spices from ancient times, was not a secret to the world. Merchants from different parts of Europe, Arab countries, and Pacific regions came here for commercial activities, which resulted in exchanges of ideologies and material culture. Pattanam, an early historic port site on Kerala's coast close to the Arabian Sea, has produced evidence of commercial activities with foreign countries, indicated by the presence of ceramics and other material remains in large volume. According to early literary evidence, the Cheras controlled the region, and the presence of their coins from Pattanam also supports this. Apart from these Chera coins, the surrounding regions of the Pattanam site have been reported with Roman Gold and Silver coins and early Indian silver punch-marked coins in hoards. Interestingly, these coins were found in the sites connecting the Pattanam region to the neighbouring early historic sites like Kodumanal, Keeladi, and Azhagankulam. Hence, these sites can be considered part of the hinterland trade networks that connect the region with other early historic port towns in southern India. This paper tries to discuss the hinterland trade network of the Pattanam site and how these coins can be used to trace the early economic condition of the region and its monetary exchanges.
