2000 Year Old Trade Centre Discovered

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Remains of a large settlement surrounded by a massive brick enclosure which could have been a maritime trade centre, have been discovered in Andhra Pradesh.
Location – near the banks of the Swarnamukhi river in Gottiprolu, near Naidupeta in Nellore (now renamed as Sri Potti Sri Ramulu) district.

The fortified settlement may have had a trade guild with its own army to protect its interests around 2,000 years ago, according to Archaeological Survey of India.
Among many other antiquities unearthed are one life size Vishnu sculpture and a wide variety of pottery of the early centuries of current era
Detailed topographical study and drone images have helped in identifying an early historic settlement surrounded by a fortification and the possibility of a moat encircling

The size of bricks found is 43 to 48 cm
On the basis of the brick size and associated findings they can be placed anywhere between 2nd – 1st century BCE or little later
Satavahana/Ikshvaku period

The excavation also unearthed a series of broken terracotta pipes that fit into each other, pointing towards a form of drainage.

These settlements could have been an important trade centre as indicated by the presence of imitated amphorae wares that were mostly used to transport liquid commodities

A four-armed 2-metre tall sculpture of Vishnu was unearthed at the site that can be dated back to the Pallava period (8th Century CE), looking at its features like head gear and drapery.

An interesting antiquity retrieved is the moulded female terracotta figurine with two hands lifted upwards.

Stone tools of Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods suggest that prehistoric people also occupied this area.

Other major retrieved antiquities unearthed are copper and lead coins, iron spear head, terracotta beads, ear studs in semi precious stones .
Further studies are being carried out through geological, chemical analysis of the site/samples
Till October 2019, ASI had excavated about 10% of the site and would start on the second round of excavations soon.