Puducherry Before the Age of Indo-Roman (Pre-Periplus) Trade Phase

The results of early excavations are promoted to conclude that the site Arikamedu was a base on Indian east coast for Roman maritime trade during early current era. The question on pre-urban phase at Arikamedu which lead to the Periplus trade is yet to be known. The pre-periplus or the proto historic of Puducherry is almost the beginning stage of urban development. The proto historic age of Puducherry seems that it began with the Iron Age which is popularly known to the scholars as megaliths. The available evidence suggests that the Iron Age of Puducherry seems largely to have been restricted to burials. Many hundreds of Urn burials were unearthed either unknowingly or systematically. The systematic excavations were carried out at Souttoukeny and Mouttrapaleon by Casals in 1950s. The early one was with Cist burials and the later one was Urn burials. Very recently nearly fifty Iron Age burials of Urn and Cist types were excavated at Auroville by the author. In addition to this, the materials brought form the accidental discoveries are put together as sources for the study to understand the prehabitation of Indo-Roman trade phase (pre-periplus) and ancient urbanization at Arikamedu in Puducherry.