Which of the following ancient ports located on the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu is famous for yielding extensive Roman pottery, glass beads, and coin hoards during archaeological excavations?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Alagankulam situated at the mouth of the Vaigai River in Tamil Nadu emerged as a major maritime trading center during the early historic period, yielding vast quantities of Roman amphorae fragments, roulette ware, and coins of Roman emperors. Muziris was located on the western coast in Kerala rather than the eastern Tamil coast, while Korkai was primarily celebrated for pearl fishery along the southern Pandyan belt. Kaveripattinam served as the grand Chola capital port but Alagankulam specifically stands out for its deep archaeological stratigraphy revealing intense Mediterranean trade connections. The site continues to be a crucial benchmark for dating early Indo-Roman commercial networks.