Hadramaut Excavations Reveal New Evidence of Indo-Roman
Trade Links from Arikamedu, India.
Alessandra Avanzini(Ed) A
Port in Arabia between Rome and the Indian Ocean (3rd C.BC-5C. AD):
Khor Rori Report 2. Arabia Antica 5, <L’Erma> di Bretschneider: Roma,
2008. P.742+6. ISBN 978-88-8265-469-6
This report contains detailed reports
of the excavations in Khor Rori (Dhofar in the Sultanate of Oman) from 2000 to
the first campaign in 2004, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List
since, 1996. Sumhuram is a systematically excavated archaeological port in the
region, and contemporaneous to that of Berenike, in Egypt, and Arikamedu, in
India. Excavations and examinations in this report push the date of foundation
of the secondary trade city, Sumhuram, back to 300 B. C.E., before the arrival
of Romans, as opposed to the earlier notions of being established during the 1st
century C.E. This changes historical understandings of the maritime trade
between Indian Ocean, and Ancient South Arabia (ASA) prior to 100 C.E. As the
editor has clarified it succinctly this contradicts the commonly held view that
Romans opened new sea routes in the Indian Ocean region, but establishes that
they exploited the areas of traffic that previously existed in the years before
the Common Era. This report also establishes that Sumhuram is not a subsidiary
port functioning in conjunction with Qana, to export Frankincence to the
Mediterranean, but an independent port with trade links connecting to Indian
Ocean trading posts. The primary relations of Sumhuram are with Arabia and
India, as opposed to Qana or the Mediterranean. Several identifiable objects of
Rome in fact were thought to have been brought to Sumhuram from India rather
than Rome through Qana or Mediterranean trade. This supports the long held view
of scholars of Indian history that direct trade link existed between Berenike
(Mediterranean port) and Arikamedu (port on the East coast of India on Indian
Ocean), and another direct sea link existed between India, and Ancient South
Arabian ports (on the Persian Gulf), and that South Arabia did not directly
trade with Rome on the sea, but India.
This book contains 20 articles not numbered in serial order,
and is also divided in four sections all of which are also not numbered in
serial order. Vittoria Buffa and Alexander V. Sedov’s article, “The Residential
Quarter: Area A,” examines Area A thoroughly and summarizes the architectural
layout and structures and also notes the changes to these, during the five
noted constructional phases. Notable are water wells, not fresh water as the
authors note, but may have been used as for drainage. This article also
examines the cultural material such as bones, coins etc. found in Area A. A
notable find is the use of six large whale vertebrae to form the ceiling of a
dwelling. Bronze tools, coins, sea shell lamps also help one understand the
material life of people living in Sumhuram. Every object is meticulously
collected and systematically catalogued with placement maps and charts. Figures
of reconstructed models of residential area help understand the exact
appearance of the houses and residential areas under discussion. The authors
also note that loam used in construction changes with each constructional
phase, although the basic model and plan of houses does not change,
significantly. This article is followed
by Alexander Sedov’s article on, “Pottery,” found in Area A. All the
descriptions are followed by pictures of residential area as well as the
pottery (page 15-123). The descriptions and pictures present the excavated area
A, as clearly as though one is visiting the site.
Next article by Alexander V. Sedov, “Excavations at the
Trench A 13 (pages 125- 181),” provides detailed description of excavated
layers and accumulated cultural material. Although each phase shows a defense
wall, the third constructional phase shows the destruction of defense tower
from earlier and a small defense tower is built. In the 5th phase
the northern wall begins to collapse and a new passage is added from the
north-west. The author does not offer any explanations as to what the changes
in the constructions may indicate, however, it can only be guessed that smaller
walls, smaller defense tower and collapsing structures may indicate, the
lessening fortunes of the city Sumhuram. This article is also accompanied by
excellent photographs of excavated structures and cultural material.
The next article, “The Cultural
Quarter: Area F,” also written by Alexander Sedov discusses the excavated
structures in Area F, with its 4 phases and accompanied cultural material. Important
structural discoveries in this part of the town are workshops (bronze, pottery,
shell) and a temple. The discussion of temple structures and material is
complete, accompanied by excellent photographs and descriptions of minute
details. The figure 10 on page 201, illustrated each object location with
catalogue numbers and very helpful to understand the historical context. This
article is also accompanied by analysis and illustration of pottery from Area
F. The article, “Religious Architecture in Sumhuram: The Extra Muros Temple,” by Alexia Pavan, Alexander V. Sedov includes
complete description of the temple, located on the east bank of Wadi Darbat,
accompanied by clear photographs of the temple. The temple does not conform to
the standard typology of the temples in this area, it differs in several
aspects from typical Hadrami temples and the author categorizes it in the
typology of “Hypostyle Temples,” the buildings with the roof supported by
columns. The majority of Hadrami temples are categorized under this type although
particular differences can be noted, as mentioned by the authors. Reasons for
its abandonment are not clear, although the authors hold the view that frequent
floods were the cause. Unless the cultural life of the residents has changed it
is difficult understand the abandonment of the temple. Floods may have prompted
relocation rather than abandonment. Existence of two temples in the same city,
one extra muros, and one within the
city walls is also puzzling and needs to be further examined.
Another article by Alexander V.
Sedov, “The Coins from Sumhuram: The 2001A-2004A Seasons,” discusses the
details of 244 coins found in the excavations, accompanied by excellent
photographs and tables of exact stratigraphic locations of each coin. This is a
thorough and excellent report on the coins. Early coins (4-2 C.B.C.E), 36 of
them, show Hadramawt imitation of Athenian tetradrachms (head/owl series). The
coinage of Yashhuril Yuharish, son of Abiyas, Mukarrib of Haramawt is most
commonly found. The coins were not struck, but cast in a mould and show head
with legend on the obverse, and the reverse with eagle. Some of the coins types
excavated here in Sumhuram (Khor Rori) are also found in Shabwa, and eastern
Arabia. The author proposes that these coins may have been minted in a local
mint most probably located at Qana. Eastern Arabian coins were also excavated
here which led the author to conclude the trade contacts may have existed
between eastern and southern Arabia in pre-Islamic Arabia. Alessandra Lombardi,
Vittoria Buffa, Alexia Pavan, in the articles, “Small finds,” describe,
catalogue and discuss each object that cannot be categorized with other
cultural objects of the excavation. The finds include, incense burners of
various sizes and shapes, weights, beads, pendants, rings and other ornaments,
vessels, bowls, tools, cosmetic objects, glass pieces, accompanied by excellent
photographs and catalogue descriptions.
The next article, “Terrestrial Fauna and Marine Produce in
Sumhuram,” by Cabriele Carenti, Barabara Wilkens identifies several types of
animal species in Sumhuram. Notable are bovine bones (Bos Taurus). Of all the faunal remains 35% are collected from
temple and 38% from dwellings. Pig is normally kept in the area of Dhofar, but
bones are found in Sumhuram, which can be explained only through link between
these regions. On the whole marine animal remains predominate and indicate a
sea food diet of this city. Marta Mariotti Lippi, Roberto Becattini, Tiziana
Gonnelli, analyze the floral remains in the article, “Archaeopalynology at
Sumhuram,” This study shows that Sumhuram has significantly more greenery and
steady water supply with earth cover, which may have deteriorated due to the
dry spell after 3rd Century C.E. This study is thorough with pollen
analysis and diagrammatical representation of data. Mauro Cremaschi, Alesandro
Pegego, “Patterns of Land Use and Settlements in the Surroundings of Sumhuram:
An intensive geo-archaeological survey at Khor Rori: report of field season
February, 2006,” brings together the archaeological, faunal and floral data
together to understand the settlement patterns of Khor Rori (Sumhuram) between
2 c B.C.E-3 c C.E. Megalithic dolmens, historical phase cairns and medieval era
stone circles were commonly noticed in this area. Although palaeolithic and
Neolithic occupations are absent, this area is continuously occupied from
protohistoric times onwards. This article is accompanied by detailed
topographic chart of all structures of Sumhuram.
Alessandra Avanzini’s article, “Notes for a History of
Sumhuram and a New Inscription of Yashuril,” is the last of the articles
summarizing the archaeology of occupational levels before the Islamic
occupation. One wishes this was the first article of the book for the excellent
work it achieves in drawing together research from various archaeological data
to propose ground breaking conclusions of the proto historic and early historic
Sumhuram up to 5th century C.E. As the author has summarized in this
article, study of Sumhuram offers new insights into understanding the trade
relations between Ancient South Arabia (ASA) with India on the Indian Ocean.
This study is remarkable since it establishes with considerable evidence that
the city of Sumhuram is a port of trade connected to Indian Ocean, although
attesting to be part of Hadramawt kingdom, it functioned quite independently.
It was not a subsidiary port to Qana for exporting Frankinsence. It directly
traded with the port of Arikamedu, any Roman objects found here were actually
exported from India, and its shipping is also modeled after Indian ships as is
evidenced by the graffiti of a double - masted ship, a characteristic Indian
Ocean ship, noted on the coinage of Satavahanas, rulers of South India, when
the port of Arikamedu flourished (p. 615-616). Therefore the links of Arikamedu
and Indian Ocean predominate in ASA, and proves the predominant trade between
these regions before 5th century C.E. Other
articles following this examine Medieval Islamic occupation and role of Khor
Rori, and scientific investigations of the area, and its neighborhood, Dhofar.
Although the text uses the Common Era for dating, it is
surprising that the title still keeps the older notation of dating as BC and
AD. This book is essential for researchers and
students of Indian Ocean region as well as Rome and the Mediterranean, and
significant for the Persian Gulf scholars as well. The greatest contribution of
this book is the wealth of information presented in detail, recorded with
minute details and pictures, which brings into light new sea faring routes of
Indian Ocean and Mediterranean through the Persian Gulf.
Lavanya Vemsani
Shawnee State University
lvemsani@shawnee.edu
Guest Post by Dr. Vemsani
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