Which of the following archaeological artifacts discovered at Pattanam provides conclusive evidence of direct trade contact between ancient Kerala and the Mediterranean world during the Augustan epoch?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Arretine terra sigillata pottery, originating from Arezzo in Italy, along with Roman amphorae fragments, has been extensively excavated at Pattanam, confirming direct commercial relations with the Roman Empire during the first century BCE and CE. Painted Grey Ware is typically associated with the Iron Age Gangetic plains rather than Malabar coastal trade. Northern Black Polished Ware belongs to northern India's Mauryan horizon. These Mediterranean imports underscore the integration of ancient Kerala into global maritime networks.