Marine Archaeological Explorations at Kulasekharapattinarn and Manapad Region, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Maritime activities along the Tamil Nadu date back to the second half of the 1st millennia BC and a large number of port towns developed all along the Tamil Nadu coast. The coastal and offshore explorations have yielded a large number evidences indicating an active maritime practiced in the past. The discovery of stone anchors along the Tamil Nadu coast is the testimony of the above evidences. Stone anchors have been one of the major antiquities related to past maritime activities which have been found at most of the port and anchoring sites all along the coastal areas. During a maritime archaeological exploration along the coast of Kulasekharpattanam and Manapad (Tamil Nadu), a large number of stone anchors with an upper circular hole were noted, which are being used by the local fishermen. In the course of investigation, an area was discovered which served as a quarry manufacturing stone anchors from early times. The remains in the intertidal zone indicate that various sizes of stone anchors were manufactured from here