Littoral Settlements from the Geoarchaeological Investigations at Pattinamarudur, Tamil Nadu, India

Ajay Kumar Rammoorthy

This paper examines the Sangam tinai of Neithal (littoral landscape) and its inhabitants, the Parathavar, as portrayed in literature. Classical Sangam poetry romanticizes Neithal as a vibrant realm of tidal rhythms, distinctive life forms like mangroves and sharks, and lively settlements (Pattinam/Pakkam) engaged in fishing and salt-harvesting under the sea god Kadalon. Beyond this literary focus, Pattinamarudur offers crucial insights into the region’s coastal archaeology. Situated within the Bay of Bengal maritime interaction zone, Pattinamarudur is also mentioned in medieval temple inscriptions as a business centre for the famous trade guild, Tisai Ayirattu Ainuruvar. Recent excavations and explorations here reveal a dominant shell-working economy, where specialized artisanal labour – particularly shell-bangle production – was a preeminent occupation that often eclipsed fishing. Furthermore, the distribution of materials plotted in GIS reveals an interesting settlement pattern, distinctly illustrating a trade hub, shell workshops, and potential residential areas. These hubs facilitated extensive local trade with inland Marudham centres and crucial international commerce, evidenced by shell products found alongside imported goods like Roman amphorae, Chinese celadon, and porcelain. The foreign mineral composition of the celadon ware will be corroborated with literature to identify its provenance. By bridging the poetic tinai framework with empirical evidence, this study affirms Neithal’s pivotal role in proto-urbanization and early globalization, revealing the resilient coastal adaptations and pragmatic foundations of the ancient South Asian maritime economy.