PAMA aims to serve as an umbrella for various intellectual initiatives that contribute to knowledge creation, ultimately supporting positive social change. The organisation welcomes new academic endeavours that will enrich its vision through diverse, transdisciplinary approaches. In the long term, PAMA aspires to be a catalyst for an evolving, open, multi-focused, and inclusive academic culture. In this spirit PAMA undertakes diverse initiatives to foster a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to understanding ancient history and its relevance in every life.

MUZIRIS MUSEUM OF SANGAM AGE CULTURE (Muziris Imaginarium)

The PAMA Institute for the Advancement of Transdisciplinary Archaeological Sciences, a nonprofit public educational trust, is dedicated to the preservation and study of indigenous cultures, operating from the Pattanam archaeological site and Aluva, Kerala. In line with its mission, PAMA envisions the establishment of the Muziris/Musiri Museum (Imaginarium) of Sangam Age Culture—a pioneering multidisciplinary centre for education, exploration, and creativity. This Imaginarium will transport visitors back to the Sangam Age (300 BCE–300 CE), a period crucial in Kerala’s history and in shaping Tamilakam’s cultural exchanges with civilizations across the globe.

The Muziris/Musiri Imaginarium will bring history to life using cutting-edge technology and advanced scholarly research, offering immersive experiences that reflect the global connections of the Sangam Age. Through exhibits highlighting the ancient port of Muziris (Musiri Pattinam) and its trade networks with sites such as Keeladi, Adichanallur, Arikamedu in South India; Hepu in South China; Khor Rori in Oman; Berenike and Alexandria in Egypt; Thebes in Greece; and Naples and Rome in Italy, the Imaginarium will provide a vibrant lens into the cultural, economic, and social diversity of this era.

Vision and Ethos

The Muziris/Musiri Imaginarium draws inspiration from the ethos of the Sangam Age, embracing the values of humility (Anbu), inner truth (Unmai), affection (Patru), and critical thinking (Pagutharivu). By skillfully blending technology with historical insights, the museum aims to bridge the past and present, paying homage to the intricate interactions that have defined Muziris’ global heritage and cultural legacy.

Rationale

Over a decade of archaeological research at Pattanam has revealed invaluable artefacts from the Sangam Age, offering a window into the flourishing trade routes that linked ancient Tamilakam with the Mediterranean, Nile Valley, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and South China Sea. The Muziris/Musiri Imaginarium seeks to present these discoveries through captivating, immersive exhibits, inspiring curiosity among young learners and preserving the rich historical and cultural heritage of Kerala for generations to come.

PAMA INDO-EGYPTIAN STUDY CENTRE

The Indo-Egyptian Study Centre will be part of the Muziris Imaginarium project. Dedicated to the study and exploration of historical connections between India and Egypt will explore sites like Berenike and other port sites that acted as gateways for Indian sailors to the Mediterranean world, supported by the Foundation for Indo-Egyptian Studies.

Contact us for more information

PATTANAM GREEN ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT:

Protecting Pattanam’s Heritage and Empowering Its Community (envisioned community program)

Image: Sibi Manjali, 2022

The Green Archaeology Project is a dedicated initiative to protect the globally significant archaeological site of Pattanam from any negative interventions, whether intentional or unintentional. The project is designed to ensure both site conservation and community empowerment, with multiple objectives to support these goals.

Key Objectives

1. Preserving Traditional Knowledge
   The project is committed to gathering, conserving, and protecting traditional knowledge on local medicinal plants, spices, and other culturally significant flora. Through documentation and knowledge-sharing, the project promotes the cultivation of sustainable plant species that require minimal ground disturbance, thus safeguarding the archaeological site.
2. Promoting Sustainable Agriculture
   By assisting local villagers in converting plots in Pattanam into spaces for cultivating spices and medicinal plants, the initiative encourages eco-friendly farming. In collaboration with agricultural scientists and institutions, the project aims to establish a cooperative knowledge enterprise that focuses on organic spices and medicinal herbs, fostering an environmentally sustainable and heritage-conscious community.
3. Empowering Local Crafts and Traditional Practices
   The project seeks to revive and support local crafts and traditions through collaborative and scientific methods. Activities such as traditional fishing, weaving, carpentry, pottery, metalworking, holistic medicine, and eco-sensitive farming are encouraged, contributing to the community's quality of life.
4. Raising Cultural Awareness and Involving the Community
   A core goal is to increase awareness about the cultural and archaeological significance of Pattanam and to involve the community in heritage preservation. Educational initiatives will invite active participation from residents in conservation efforts and in the organic cultivation of locally significant plants.
5. Empowering Women in the Community
   The project aims to utilise the skills and strengths of local women through employment schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme, Kudumbashree, and Ayalkoottam, enabling them to play a central role in site conservation and sustainable initiatives.
6. Site Conservation and Revenue Generation
   To ensure long-term sustainability, the Green Archaeology Project will explore revenue-generating models that benefit the local community while promoting site conservation.

Get Involved

We warmly invite collaboration from individuals and institutions interested in supporting the goals of the Green Archaeology Project.
Contact us to learn more and join us in this endeavour.

REDISCOVERING ANCIENT TAMILAKAM

PAMA has initiated efforts to critically review available sources related to the Sangam Age, including literary, archaeological, and historical evidence, to develop a comprehensive and reliable understanding of ancient Tamilakam owing to the fact that, in the general historiography of mainland India, the historiography of peninsular India has largely remained obscure with only a limited scope of a narrative.

The project's objective is to promote evidence-based research on the ancient Tamilakam period, spanning from the 5th century BCE to the 5th century CE, in the Indian subcontinent. This initiative involves a thorough analysis and integration of new sources to establish a comprehensive and credible understanding of the origins and development of ancient Tamilakam.

Kerala in the Classical Age 500 BCE. - 500 CE. - The written sources of the Classical Age (2022-2023) Click here

PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMME FOR SOCIAL AND SCIENTIFIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

This initiative is an invitation to entrepreneurs across the globe to Pattanam. The legendary port of Muziris offers numerous opportunities of creative collaboration and innovation through cooperative entrepreneurship. It can range from community kitchens to eateries of culinary habits of two dozen cultures that merged at Pattanam two thousand years ago. Identify and devise models for various self sustaining ventures that will benefit pokkali cultivation and fishing in the local water bodies, conserving its natural and cultural heritage.

Safeguard Pattanam archaeological site by purchasing land.