Ghost of first European fort built in Asia rises from Fort Kochi shore
The laterite-rock-and-surkhi structure, buried under layers of sand and stone, emerged after heavy sea erosion stripped away the coastline.
Surkhi is a type of brick dust or red oxide powder, mixed with lime to create a binding agent for plastering or flooring.
Marine geologists from Cochin University said the exposed ruins likely belong to Fort Emmanuel, constructed by the Portuguese in 1503. "Parts of the fort are under these rock blocks and they get exposed annually," said Ratheesh Kumar, assistant professor of marine geology and geophysics at Cochin University.
"We're working to determine whether this is the original Portuguese structure or the one rebuilt by the Dutch.
"
The current neighbourhood of Fort Kochi — Europe's first colonial settlement in Asia — gets its first name from Fort Emmanuel. It changed hands from Portuguese to Dutch to British between 1503 and 1947. The ruins offer rare physical proof of that layered colonial history.
The discovery comes a couple of years after stone artefacts unearthed during Kochi Water Metro work on the northern coast of Fort Kochi were identified as remains of a Portuguese church, likely demolished during Dutch occupation.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik
IC Markets
Mendaftar
Undo
"The rocks from that site match crustal blocks along the Munnar-Theni-Rajapalayam stretch, once a known Portuguese ghat trade corridor," said Kumar.
Both discoveries — north and south of Fort Kochi — have triggered a wave of global academic interest. Researchers from Europe and beyond are contacting the Cochin University team for detailed analysis. "This shows Fort Kochi's potential to be recognised as a colonial renaissance heritage site," Kumar said.
That heritage comes at a cost. Much of Fort Kochi's beach is vanishing to sea erosion — though the sea gives back fragments of history long thought lost.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Doctoral candidate at UoM pioneers research on repatriation of tribal heritage
Mysuru: A doctoral candidate at the department of Studies in Anthropology at the University of Mysore (UoM) is currently working on her PhD thesis on repatriation of tribal heritage — the first such doctoral research topic in India. The research, conducted by Banita Behera, an officer of the Anthropological Survey of India (ASI), under the mentorship of M R Gangadhar, professor and the current vice-chancellor of Chamarajanagar University, delves into the complex issue of repatriation of tribal cultural artefacts from museums back to their source communities – a hitherto underexplored area in Indian academic context. Titled 'Repatriation of Tribal Heritage: A Threat to Anthropological Collections: A Future Solution to the Cultural Policies', the thesis examines the cultural, legal, ethical, and policy dimensions of returning tribal artefacts to indigenous communities. It provides a roadmap for how India can balance heritage protection with cultural justice towards its tribal populations. Behera's research advocates revising India's antiquity laws, urging museums to serve as both guardians and partners in cultural preservation. Despite the global prominence of the repatriation debate, it has received little attention in India, given the country's rich tribal heritage and vast museum collections. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Resmed AirSense 11 with flat 20% off ResMed Buy Now Undo Behera's study critiques the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972, for its failure to address tribal rights and community ownership of anthropological collections in museums. It proposes inclusive cultural policies, strengthened museum-community collaborations, and legal frameworks to support respectful repatriation. By offering sustainable and equitable repatriation models, the research paves the way for cultural reconciliation, ensuring tribal heritage is not only exhibited but honoured, revitalised, and returned to where it rightfully belongs. This study is the first in India to comprehensively tackle the critical global issue of tribal artefact repatriation at the doctoral level, positioning the University of Mysore as a leader in heritage policy and anthropological research in South Asia, according to professor Gangadhar. "This thesis is a cultural blueprint for the future," he said, adding: "It underscores the need for policy formation for anthropological museums to redefine them as active collaborators in preserving culture." He further said museum anthropology is largely unexplored in India, making this research truly distinctive. Behera, originally from Odisha, began her PhD in 2020. With 15 years of experience as a museum anthropologist, she currently leads the Southern Zonal Anthropological Museum, Anthropological Survey of India, in Mysuru. Behera plans to submit a proposal based on her research to the Ministry of Culture, which has expressed interest in it.
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- The Hindu
Indian Army celebrates 284th anniversary of Battle of Colachel
The Indian Army celebrated the 284th anniversary of the Battle of Colachel on Thursday. The Madras Regiment of the Army held a function at the Colachel War Memorial in Kanyakumari district to mark the occasion. The Colachel Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the victory of the Travancore forces led by Marthanda Varma over the Dutch in the Battle of Colachel on July 31, 1741. Marthanda Varma had installed a victory pillar near the Colachel beach to mark his victory. Colonel Avinash Kumar Singh, Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion, Madras Regiment, Pangode Military Station, was chief guest at Thursday's event. Colonel Singh and other dignitaries laid wreaths at the war memorial.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Despite AMC ban, corporators fund bird feeders
Ahmedabad: A civic contradiction has taken flight in Ahmedabad. While the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) banned public bird feeding a decade ago to control hygiene and health issues, the city has quietly built over 100 bird-feeding platforms since. These concrete and metal structures — all funded by elected representatives and all executed by administrative officials — are now hotspots for pigeon gatherings, and public complaints. The health and solid waste management department of the AMC imposed the ban in 2013, explicitly prohibiting feeding birds and animals in public to curb public nuisance and littering. "Violation of the ban was punishable with a Rs 100 fine under Clause 50.1(7) of the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporation Act, 1949. The regulations were enforced through Resolution 77 on May 10, 2013," said a senior AMC official, requesting anonymity. However, this has not stopped raised concrete and metal platforms from cropping up across public squares, gardens, and residential areas — all custom-made for placing grains for birds. While intended to support urban wildlife, they often attract pigeons in large numbers, leading to hygiene issues, clogged drains, as well as health issues including irreversible lung damage, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and chronic respiratory failure due to exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Adam Lambert, 43, Takes off His Makeup and Leaves Us Without Words Today's NYC Undo You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad "Bird feeding in public space is a nuisance as people park their vehicles on the roads without a care to scatter the grains at these spots. This also attracts a lot of birds, mainly pigeons, that turn into a nuisance for residences nearby. They not only dirty the balconies and houses, but are also carriers of deadly diseases," said a resident of Navrangpura, refusing to be named. In 2023, a 42-year-old woman from Jarod village in Vadodara district had to undergo a lung transplant in Chennai for a condition caused by pigeon droppings. Earlier that same year, a 40-year-old woman from Ahmedabad reportedly underwent a bilateral lung transplant after pigeon feathers and excreta caused interstitial lung disease (ILD) that left her gasping for breath. Interestingly, while AMC's own health regulations prohibit public bird feeding, the civic body has invested lakhs in constructing platforms that enable it. "It is built using grants allocated by councillors," said an AMC official, confirming: "Over 100 such platforms have been constructed in the last 10 years. It typically costs between Rs 3 to Rs 5 lakh, with some touching Rs 8 to Rs 10 lakh." The official added that at least 10-12 new platforms are set up every year, with the trend continuing unchecked. A random inspection found that nine such constructions had been approved in just Nov and Dec 2020, AMC sources add. Senior AMC sources also added that most birdfeeder constructions were taken up without formal approvals, and there was no legal clarity on their permissibility under the existing ban. "We sanction if there's a demand," said one councillor. "If the executive wing believes it violates bylaws, they shouldn't approve it." The present municipal commissioner M Thennarasan, in July 2024, had directed officials to identify nuisance spots linked to bird feeding across Ahmedabad. Deputy municipal commissioners were assigned the task of mapping and planning closures of these areas. But insiders say no action has followed since. Ahmedabad is not the only city where bird feeding is banned. The Maharashtra govt directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to stop bird feeing in Mumbai early this month. A minister cited several studies linking pigeon droppings and diseases like asthma, lung infections, and other respiratory illnesses for the reason behind the ban.
