Clues linking Indian, Roman civilisations found

[Matt]

Clues linking Indian, Roman civilisations found

Panaji, March. 29 (PTI): Scientists from city-based National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) have found artefacts near Dwarka island, off Gujarat coast, which indicate close links between Indian and Roman civilisations.

"During the excavation, we found artefacts dating back 3,500 which indicate that India's maritime history is much older and Indians used to travel by sea even before Vasco da Gama touched Indian shores," Dr K H Vora, Deputy Director and Project Leader, Marine Archaeology, told PTI.

"Archaeological excavations at bet (island) Dwarka, which is western most part of India, also revealed an interesting cultural sequence commencing from pre-historic period (3800 years Before Present) to historical period (1600 Before Present)," he said.

"Interestingly, we came across amphorae shreds of Mediterranean origin. This indicated that Indian and Roman civilisations have similarities with each other through sea route," Vora stated.

NIO's Marine archaeology wing which is continuously exploring coasts of Somnath, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg and Goa besides Dwarka, consider the revelation as a milestone in marine history.

NIO scientists, during their study on shoreline changes during last 2000 years on the Saurashtra Coast of India, off-Gulf of Kutch, have encountered large number of stone anchors dating back two thousand years.

"That means, the stone anchors were used even before iron anchor came in use by the ships which were anchored off- Gujarat coast," Vohra stated.



http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/008200703291653.htm
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[BlueHue]

WELL,

  Nice story, but this is "Old Hat" we allready are aware that there existed several Roman Colonies on indian Coasts consisting of redundant military-veterans that for some reson could not get manumissio-Propriety in Italy and went to india instead, some were re-employed as traders of indian goods and most pensioned-off Romans there married younger inland maidens, so after two or three gnerations their "Roman-Origin" was untracable.  "Madras"was one of those  antique-Roman Colonies in India. 

Not only Roman(=broken thus used-)Pottery was found, but large hordes of hidden Roman goldcoins that seem to have had no financial recycling-effect on the Roman/indian economy which is a pity

Who can come-up with a reason why fresh minted Gold coins were hidden in Indian coastal towns during the Antonine Emperors/ what use is a hidden treasure?

As a result that this gold spent did not flow back to Rome due to a one-sided Export-excange ( probably7 only Indian Essences and incenses.) The number of goldcoins in exchange in Rome dwindled and was gradually debased into ( gilded)copper coins.  which inflated the Roman economy and nearly made the State Bankrupt.

And this only because the roman money spent in india never returned, ONE WOULD THINK THAT THE INDIANS MAYBE RE-USED THE ROMAN COINS THERE,  BUT NAY THEY WERE BURRIED.  Perhaps the posession of minted gold was a capital offence in india then?

Anyway the Roman Emperor Diocletian issued a decree in:  300 ad that forbode the sale of Incense from india which was traditionally paid only in gold currency and in 305 ad he orderde that egyptian chemistry books be burned  that showed how to make false gold from the metal-alloy "Pyrite" that undetected could be passed on for" real Gold".

Alas many egyptian Chemistry books were physically attached to scientific works about the Cosmography of the Solar system so that unwhittingly much irreplacable historic archives were also burned.

How blind can one be?  IF Pyrite-alloy gold coins were indeed "undetactible"from the real gold stuff( untill it became rusty!)it would have the simulated function of the real gold with a much better resistance against wear and tear. and be in much greater abundance to support the economy than  Copper or bronze coins.

One hears strange or exaggerated stories from the early 20th century that Indan "NABOBS"had cellars full of ( british-)Papermoney
that was gnawed by mice, whilst their poor subjects were starving at the local palace gates, but in roman times with the Roman Goldcoins, not even "Boullion" but real coins not being used in the indian economy, the mind boggles what purpose this unproductive "hording" served

Sincerely      " BlueHue"