Which ancient fishing settlement and port on the east coast, near Puducherry, was an important centre of trade with the Romans?

Arikamedu, on the banks of the Ariyankuppam river, near Puducherry, was an ancient fishing village and port that became an important centre of trade with the Romans, between about the 2nd century BCE and the 2nd century CE.

NCERT on Arikamedu:

• NCERT describes Arikamedu as a coastal settlement where ships unloaded goods from distant lands, between 2,200 and 1,900 years ago.
• A massive brick structure, which may have been a warehouse, was found at the site.

Other finds include pottery from the Mediterranean region, such as amphorae (tall double-handled jars that contained liquids such as wine or olive oil) and stamped red-glazed pottery known as "Arretine Ware" (named after a city in Italy).

Some of the stamped pottery was made locally, using Roman designs.

Roman lamps, glassware and gems have also been found.

Small tanks were found, which were probably dyeing vats used to dye cloth.

Many beads made from semi-precious stones and glass have also been found.

All this suggests that Arikamedu was a place where people from distant lands traded, and where craftspersons produced goods for trade.

Excavations:

Arikamedu was excavated by Mortimer Wheeler in 1945, and later by J.-M. Casal (French) and Vimala Begley (an American archaeologist) in the 1980s and 1990s.

Wheeler's discovery of Roman pottery helped date other sites in south India.

Arikamedu is identified with "Poduke", a port mentioned in the Greek text "Periplus of the Erythraean Sea".

Indo-Roman trade:

• India exported spices (especially pepper), fine cotton textiles (muslin), precious stones, ivory, pearls and exotic animals to the Roman empire.
• Rome paid mostly in gold and silver coins, which have been found in large hoards in south India.
• Other ports of the time included Muziris (Kerala), Korkai and Puhar (Tamil Nadu) and Bharuch (Gujarat).

Why not the other options?

• ✗Muziris was a port on the west coast (Kerala).
• ✗Korkai was a Pandya port.
• ✗Bharuch was a port on the west coast (Gujarat).