The pottery of Tissamaharama (Sri Lanka) and its importance for maritime trade on the Silk Road of the Sea between the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Burkhard Vogt
• Subject Area: Prehistory and World Archaeology
• Term: from 2013 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 233644681

Purpose of the application is the funding to finish the publication of pottery research carried out at Tissamaharama. The spectrum of pottery development spans a time ranging from the 5th century BCE to the 13th century CE. The fieldwork of the KAAK excavation (1992 to 2010) is terminated. The pottery sequence from Tissamaharama, established by Heidrun Schenk, serves as reference for the history of the Indian subcontinent. It provides archaeological benchmarks to study the historical formation of long-distance trade across the Indian Ocean from Southeast Asia in the East to the Red Sea and Persian Gulf in the west. The pottery sequence provides reliable archaeological indications for the duration of many relevant sites. It leads to an understanding of the differentiation of mercantile trade ties and their shifting in time.Stratigraphicaly sealed complexes are the basis for the pottery sequence. Preliminary work on the stratigraphy of the contexts was necessary. Results were gathered in detailed plans and general maps. This work is not yet completely finished. Of particular significance for this process is the mapping of scattered pottery fragments of individual vessels. The pottery research of Tissamaharama contributes fundamentally to South Asian archaeology and to the economic history of the Indian Ocean trade. Comparative materials were provided by excavators from Sumhuram (Oman: Italian-Omani excavation); Berenike (Egypt: American-Egyptian excavation), Pattanam (India: excavation of Historical Council Kerala), Mahastangarh in Bangladesh (joint Bangladesh-France project) and Sembiran/Pacung (Bali: Australian-Indonesian excavation). The pottery from Tissamaharama and its chronology are likewise highly relevant for the dating and study of early script in India. About 4000 fragments with early Brahmi letters from the site alone are a profound basis. The frequency of female Buddhist names, apart from a range of male monks, is especially surprising. Several Tamil-Brahmi names speak for strong bonds and exchange to nearby Southern India.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants