 Arikamedu is a coastal fishing village , under the <unk> <unk> , on the southeastern coast of India , 4 kilometres ( 2 @.@ 5 mi ) from Pondicherry , on the Pondicherry @-@ <unk> road ; it was originally a French colonial town . It is located on the bank of the <unk> River ( for most part of the year the river is considered a <unk> ) , also known as Virampattinam River , which forms the northern outlet of the <unk> River as it joins the Bay of Bengal . As the site is located at the bend of the river it provides protection to sea @-@ going vessels that dock there . The site has been subject to extensive archaeological excavations . The archaeological site is spread over an area of 34 @.@ 57 acres ( 13 @.@ 99 ha ) and has been under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India since 1982 . 
