excavations at Pattanam sheds new light on the life and times of the ancient Kerala. The finds this year include iron and copper nails, Roman glass, Chola coins, terracotta and semi precious stone beads. Criticisms Former Director of the Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department R. Nagaswamy is of opinion that it is not yet time to identify Pattanam as Muziris. Kodungallur also is to be excavated before coming to a conclusion. Archaeology requires a lot of evidence before arriving at any conclusion. Romila Thapar has expressed her reservations on the use of ancient DNA sampling techniques, raising doubts whether there was the danger of bacterial contaminations or mutations in samples taken from skeletons that were buried for over 2,000 years. She however describes Pattanam as "a turning point for studies into India’s maritime relations.". Historian M.G.S. Narayanan says that Pattanam is not Muziris and that Muziris is Kodungallur. The second Chera dynasty ruled was kodungallur. The Jewish copper plate inscriptions of 1000 AD says that Kodungallur is Muyirikkode. Muyirikkode is another name of Muziris. According to him, it is the clear evidence that Kodungallur is Muziris. The identification of Pattanam as Muziris is a divisive subject among some of the historians of south India. "Whether Pattanam was Muziris is not of immediate concern to us," the chief of the Kerala Council for Historical Research recently stated to the media. Even the last field report on the excavations (2013) explicitly shows Pattanam as Muziris. See also List of archaeological sites by country North Paravur Thiruvanchikulam Ernakulam District Paravur Taluk Kochi Kodungallur References Resources BBC report, Search for India's ancient city Pattanam Excavations (Comprehensive Resource) Pattanam excavation significant Archaeological sites in Kerala Tourist attractions in Ernakulam district Villages in Ernakulam district