Manikapatna: A Historical Period Port Site on the East Coast of Ancient Kalinga and its Maritime Relation with Southeast Asia

Rabindra Kumar Mohanty1*, Tilok Thakuria2, Shantanu Anil Vaidya1, Pramod P. Joglekar3, and Midhun C. S.4

The port site of Manikapatna is located in the east coast of Odisha; the ancient Kalinga; which had extensive trade relation with Southeast Asia, China, Sri Lanka and beyond. Both exploration and excavation at Manikapatna revealed its active participation around 6th-7th c.CE to 17th c.CE. Though it briefly continued during the colonial rule, however, its maritime importance had declined by then. The port sites on Chilika’s coast had become unusable for big ships and hence declined by the early centuries of the CE, which might made Manikapatna most suitable location having natural anchoring facilities with opening to the ocean, and became functional as a harbour and location for ship repairing, warehousing, internal, and external procurement/distribution of commodities. The site has seven mounds scattered along with an Early Medieval Shiva temple. The excavation yielded sizable ceramics of indigenous and foreign origin. Chinese celadon ware and porcelain of large quantity clearly suggest involvement in seafaring activity with Southeast Asia along with two-way cultural interaction. Additionally, large numbers of glass beads, bangle fragments, and fish bones; objects of stone, copper, terracotta, iron; Chinese and Sri Lankan coins recovered in explorations and excavations. On the edge of the mound facing Chilika, evidence of several ring-wells having potable water probably supporting the voyagers otherwise in a saline environment. Numerous stories are associated with places revealing voyage of local merchants by various kind of boats and ships to Southeast Asia. Thus, Manikapatana holds significance in understanding the trade/exchange between the hinterland and distant places in the Southeast Asia.