Indian archaeologist to speak at maritime silk road symposium in China

CHENNAI: Despite facilitating human migration across continents and exchange of goods and communication between different cultures, oceans and water bodies have played an important role in the formation of new economic systems, the restructuring of powers and rise and fall of civilizations. In history, the dynamics of maritime activities have left behind a large volume of material evidence related to navigation, ports, docks, settlements, technology and interfaces of cultures.
Aimed at a global platform to deliberate on the recent archaeological discoveries on ports, trade, ships, routes and maritime cultures, the Shanghai Museum will be organising a symposium on “Archaeological discoveries and maritime silk road” from October 23 to 28.
Veteran archaeologist and director of PAMA Institute for the Advancement of Trans-disciplinary Archaeological Sciences P J Cherian will speak on “The role of Indian subcontinent in the China Sea-Gibraltar maritime interfaces from 300 BC to 500 AD” at the symposium, said a release.
He will also deliver a public lecture on “Muziris: The story and science of excavating an ancient port city.”
Cherian is expected to hold discussions with representatives of some of the Chinese laboratories, universities and research institutes which have expressed interests in academic collaborations with PAMA.