Arikamedu a fishing colony was used as a port for trade with the Romans and Greco-Romans. An ancient Chola coin dating back to 1 B.C. suggests involvement of Cholas in various port related activities. Besides maritime commerce there seems to be evidence of inland trade with other 'megalithic' sites like Kaveripattinam, Alagankulam, Musiri and Suttukeni along river valley routes. Later the site was divided into two sectors northern and southern as they were perceived to have been inhabited by different ethnic groups. It is also known as 'Yavanas' in Tamil literature.
ANCIENT TRADE :
Wine seems to have been a major import as traces of Amphora jars suggest.'Yavanas' and wine have been mentioned in the same breath in Tamil literature- "having increased the joy by giving to the girls of shining bangles, who every day have taken in hands, vessels beautified by gold, to drink the cool, fragrant wine brought by the Yavanas in beautiful bowls". Besides wine Garum sauce and Olive oil were also imported.
The exports must have included textile, beads, semiprecious gems, glass and shell bangles as wastage at the manufacturing site suggest. Even today if one looks carefully, after about of heavy rains, one can find beads on the bank of the river.
ARIKAMEDU IN MEDIEVAL TIMES
Formerly it was considered that Arikamedu was abandoned after 200 A.D. but fragments of Amphoras and a copper coin of Constantine I minted between 306-324 A.D. suggest that Arikamedu was occupied from 300 A.D. to 700 A.D. There is also considerable evidence to suggest that the site was occupied during medieval Chola times .
Finds of Chola coins, Chinese Celadon pottery and other East Asian glazed ceramics suggest occupation of the site and some involvement in the Medieval East-West maritime trade as well. Some pottery found here are very similar to the eleventh century pottery of Gangaikondacholapuram Decorated spouts of water jars and clay lamps of the medieval period are also present.
Between 1771-73 Monsieur Pigneau de Behaine, designated Bishop of Adran, built a seminary and residence on the eastern part of the mount for the Jesuit missionaries driven out of Siam . It was abandoned in 1783.
The remaining walls of the seminary clearly indicate the use of mixed style of bricks, some of them, probably pilfered from ancient structures. The mission house has been the point of reference for all excavators viz. Wheeler, Casal and Vimala Begely and co.
There doesn't seem to be evidence of any other structure belonging to this French period. There are a few fragments of decorative ceramic tiles and reliefs, pieces of pottery and glass in the puducherry Museum.
ARIKAMEDU TODAY
Except for the perpendicular walls and mission house there is not much that can be seen on the surface as the excavated trenches have been filled up. Coconut and Mango trees are there in abundance.
Its almost like they are intent upon reminding one to step out of the time machine into the realm of reality. The plantations take your breath away. The mangoes hanging from the lower branches feel like the forbidden fruit and the orchard itself truns into the garden of Eden.
