Prelim - History

Underwater explorations

• The Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology began underwater archaeological explorations in September off the coast between Poompuhar and Nagapattinam, the flourishing port cities of the ancient and medieval periods.

Objective

• Investigating submerged remains and bringing out Tamil Nadu’s maritime past.
• Poompuhar, also known as Kaveripoompattinam — the capital of early Cholas — and Nagapattinam, a prominent medieval trade hub with links to Southeast Asia.

Supported institutions for this exploration

• Experts of the Indian Maritime University, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), and the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) will collaborate for the survey.

Earlier explorations

• In the 1980s, the Department of Archaeology and the NIO, carried out geophysical surveys of the seabed. These surveys revealed several structures at depths of 20 m to 30 m.
• In 1990, a shipwreck was discovered offshore near Vanagiri.
• Between 1991 and 1993 explorations revealed manmade structures and brick formations.
• In 2004, the hydrographic survey ship INS Darshak, off the coast of Poompuhar, identified a U shaped structure.
• The ship also recovered the remains of a Dutch vessel believed to have been sunk by the British in the late 18th Century.