Signalling the potential for an archaeological expedition, the discovery of antiques from Pattinamaruthur village, located near Tharuvaikulam along the east coast of Thoothukudi, suggests the presence of a thriving trade centre comparable to Korkai on the banks of the Thamirabarani River. On Friday, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu announced plans for an archaeological excavation at Pattinamaruthur in the state Budget for FY 2025-26.
The Pattinamaruthur archaeological site was uncovered by enthusiast P. Rajesh (46), who collected numerous artefacts while searching for an ancient Perumal temple at Tharuvaikulam.
According to Rajesh, he collected a variety of artefacts from a 300-acre area in Pattinamaruthur, as well as nearby villages such as Kalmedu, Melamaruthur, Samathuvapuram, and Tharuvaikulam. These items included pottery, metal ornaments, conch ornaments, stone tools, terracotta pipelines, iron foundry scraps, casting remnants, and ceramic wares.
Among the antiques discovered were female deity figures made from a sand-limestone mixture, idols of Naga, gem bead remnants, and scraps. Additionally, Rajesh found Tamil inscriptions in ‘vatt Ezuthu’ dating back to the 8th century, along with old Arabic inscriptions, pottery graffiti resembling the Manding script, and ‘kitalaware,’ all of which require further study and verification by archaeological experts, he added.
Rajesh identified several significant artifacts, including ancient hero stones depicting the Vathabi Ganapathy war incident, a sati stone engraved with Buddha images at Pattinamaruthur, and a dilapidated Perumal temple symbolizing the triad cult at Tharuvaikulam.
As a numismatist, Rajesh also holds a collection of 19 coins from the Pandya and Chola periods, each containing a substantial amount of gold, ranging from 2.4 per cent to 47 per cent, all found in Pattinamaruthur. Additionally, he discovered Chinese and Greek bronze coins.
Rajesh mentioned that most of the artefacts and antiques had been handed over to the Ottapidaram and Pattinamaruthur Village Administrative Officer’s office, while only a few remain in his possession.
Archaeological enthusiasts suggest that Tharuvaikulam could be an ancient trade centre, possibly referred to as ‘Kilpatinam’ or the ‘City of Cail,’ as mentioned by the Venetian traveller Marco Polo during his visit to the coast in 1292. However, this claim requires verification from historical experts, as the coastal city of Kayalpattinam, near Korkai, is traditionally regarded as Kilpatinam.
Rajesh noted that the coastal area has shown signs of extensive industrial activities, including conch cutting and the production of shell bangles, rings, and other ornaments. Additionally, the presence of gem bead works further supports the idea of a once-thriving trade centre, indicating strong potential for future archaeological excavation.
