Rejuvenating Transnational Cultural Communication Through Coastal Archaeological Remain in India (Vol-1)

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This Book represents a unique compendium of lectures on Maritime Routes and Cultural Landscapes, held under the aegis of Project 'Mausam' at the initiative of the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India which aims to connect various countries on the Indian Ocean. Project 'Mausam' endeavours to rebuild maritime cultural connection with 39 countries bordering the Indian Ocean and it also aims to bring together historical and archaeological researches to record the diversities of economic, cultural and religious interactions between these countries. Geographically, the Indian Ocean is bounded by the Antarctic or south ocean in the south and forms a confluence with the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea in the North. The ocean is bordered by Africa in the west and by Asia in the north east, surrounding India and Sri Lanka.

Naval trade on the Indian Ocean dates back to the third millennium BCE, when residents of the Indus valley opened maritime trading with Mesopotamia, Egypt, East Africa, and Roman Empire. Through these maritime trade networks, many goods were exchanged, including medicine, aromatics, spices, dyes, wood, grains, gems, textile, metals, livestock and stones. These goods were sold along the coastline of the Indian Ocean. The trade facilitated exchange of religious, culture and technologies, contributing to the expansion of Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism.

INDIA has a very long coastline, and it measures about 7,516.6 km bordering the mainland and the islands with the Bay of Bengal in the East, the Indian Ocean on the South and the Arabian Sea on the West. The coastline is distributed among nine states eg. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengaland four union territories (UTs) eg. Daman & Diu, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Bay of Bengal), Lakshadweep Islands (Arabian Sea) Among the states, Gujarat has the longest coastline and among the UTs, Andaman and Nicobar Islands has the longest coastline.

The coastal environment plays a vital role in a nation's economy by virtue of the resources, productive habitats and rich biodiversity. The coastal zone is also endowed with a wide range of coastal ecosystems like mangroves, coral reefs, seagrasses, salt marshes, dunes, estuaries, lagoons, etc. The coastal areas are assuming greater importance in recent years, owing to the increasing human population, urbanization and accelerated developmental activities.

For centuries, people migrating to India, with their respective cultures and traditions and later mixing with the cultures and tradition of the Indians. This amalgamation of cultures has slowly but gradually enriched the values and faiths of the Indians even further. As one turns the pages of history, the rich heritage of India comes alive with all its fragrance and colour which are still breathing in the heritage forts, palaces, temples and monuments which can be found in each and every corner of this multi-faceted country, like India. The splendid architecture, minutely carved motifs, embellished facades of the heritage monuments narrates the immense skill of the craftsmen which have been fascinating the World for many centuries.