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Tamil Nadu Begins Underwater Exploration off Poompuhar Coast
The Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) commences the third phase of underwater archaeological exploration off the coast of Poompuhar in Mayiladuthurai district recently. The exploration is linked to Poompuhar, an ancient port city once known as Kaveripoompattinam.
Underwater Archaeological Exploration off Poompuhar:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Poompuhar, or Puhar, is a town in the Mayiladuthurai district in the state of Tamil Nadu. |
| Name Meaning | ‘Puhar’ in Tamil means the ‘estuary’ of a river in the sea. |
| Geographical Setting | It is located close to the spot where the Cauveri River flows out into the Bay of Bengal. |
| Political Association | Kaveri Poompattinam serves for a while as the capital of the Early Chola kings in Tamilakam. |
| Archaeological Evidence | As per archaeological evidence found during excavation, this age-old city is said to have been established thousands of years ago. |
| Offshore Finds | Ancient pottery dating back to the 4th century BCE has been discovered offshore by marine archaeologists east of this town. |
| Literary Mentions | Silappathikaram and Manimekalai, the Tamil epics, bring out the greatness of the city in some of the poems in Sangam literature. |
| Disaster Impact | It has been destroyed several times by huge tsunami waves in the past. |