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Accession Date and Time-29-10-2011;3.00PM
Kottapuram Excavations/ Muziris Heritage Project
The Kottapuram Fort (Cranganore Fort or Kodungallur Fort), was constructed by the Portuguese in mid 16th
century CE and was later demolished and rebuilt by the Dutch in around
1663 CE. This fort is situated on the western banks of river Periyar or
about five km east off the river mouth in Kodungallur taluk, Thrissur
district, Kerala, India. It was briefly the military camp of Tipu Sultan
in the Periyar region and was later bought by the newly emerged
Travancore state after them defeating the Dutch in the Battle of
Colachel. By the eighteenth century, the fort appears to have been in
ruins. In the early decades of 20th century, this fort came
in the hands of the Travancore State Archaeological department after
Tipu Sultan and the English and has been a protected monument ever
since.
In 2007, the State
Department of Archaeology, government of Kerala explored this site
systematically and laid out few trial trenches. As
a result of this debris clearance and excavation, ruins of the fort
along with many artifacts both of indigenous and foreign origin were
unearthed. Since 2009, excavations have been carried out under the
Muziris Heritage Project. The recent archaeological excavations from
April 2010 have revealed at least four structural phases along with many
antiquities and non local ceramics. Many of these pottery types will go
into forming a ceramic sequence for the region which also includes
known sites like Pattanam. Important antiquities found at Kottapuram
include, canon balls, local and foreign coins, smoke pipes, tiles,
bricks, nails, terracotta animal figurines, beads and glass bangles.
These artifacts help in relatively dating the different periods of
occupation in the site.
This site has also yielded number of
faunal remains along with one human extended burial and other
osteo-archaeological remains. Ceramics belong to various categories
namely; celadon, porcelain, turquoise glazed pottery, Sanjan type and
torpedo jar etc indicate that this area had played a vital role in the
Indian Ocean trade perhaps from 9th, 10th century
CE onwards. Archaeological evidence from pre-fortification levels
suggests an early occupation in the site and its environs.
Muziris Heritage Project (MHP) is a
large project initiated by the Gov’t of Kerala and supported with a
major grant from the central government’s Ministry of Culture. The
project aims at restoring the ‘Muziris Heritage’ and making it an
attractive area for those who are interested in the history and heritage
of a country. The recent attempts include a high diplomatic level
discussion on devising “Spice Route Tourism’. The Heritage site covers
the Kodungalur Taluk in Thrissur District and the North Paravur Taluk in
Ernakulam District. The project aims at renovating and maintaining
different old structures there, so that they can be opened to the
public. In the first phase, the Paliyam Kovilakom, Paliyam Nalukettu,
two synagogues and two archaeological sites (Pattanam and Kottapuram)
are expected to be made accessible to the public.
Twenty seven museums are planned in the first phase and will educate
public and students in the history of this part of the country
particularly cultural history. The ancient art and cultural forms also
will be rejuvenated as part of the project. The plan is to make the
Muziris a living heritage and interpretation centre rather than a mere
tourist attraction. Excavations continue in the two archaeological
sites under this project; Pattanam is in the sixth season of excavation
and Kottapuram is in the second season of excavation. Site museums are
planned in both these sites after conservation applying current global
standards.
The Department of History is a major
consultant to this project and students attended the field school at
Kottapuram and other MHP sites
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