Digital mapping of the ancient port city of Kaverippumpattinam and its trade routes

Kaverippumpattinam is one of the celebrated ports of ancient India and was active around the early centuries of the Common Era.According to the texts, the port was destroyed by marine incursions.The cultural activities of the port that were connected with the regions of the Indian Ocean, Buddhism and the activities of the early historic Cholas (the Chozhas) have been documented in the early Tamil texts of Pattinappalai and other Sangam Tamil compositions, and the early medieval texts of Cilappatikaram and Manimekalai.Archaeological surveys, excavations and underwater explorations have exposed some of the vestiges of the ancient city.We explored the region and studied the textual and archaeological sources of the ancient city of Kaverippumpattinam and the associated landscapes and trade routes, and have mapped them using geospatial technology.The present article presents the results of the study (part of PUHAR-ETAR project) that sought to map the city and its links.