Q. What was Arikamedu during ancient India?
Answer:
A coastal settlement and trade centre
Notes: Arikamedu was an important coastal town and port in ancient India. It was located near Puducherry and was a center for Indo-Roman trade. Arikamedu was a major Chola port and was believed to be the only town with ties to Rome. The town exported textiles, beads, and precious stones, and imported wine and olive oil from Rome. Arikamedu was excavated in the 1940s. Significant findings at the site include numerous Indo-Pacific beads, which helped determine the period of its origin. The site is open at all times and can be accessed by road. Arikamedu was mentioned in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, an anonymous Greco-Roman text from the 1st century CE. The text described the known coastal landmarks and ports of the Indian Subcontinent's coastline.