Underwater archaeologists have located the remains of a 1st-century CE Roman merchant vessel at a depth of 60 meters off the coast of Crete. The ship’s hull, constructed from durable Indian teak, suggests it was built in the ports of the Konkan or Malabar coast and traveled the maritime Silk Road across the Arabian Sea.
Analysis of the ship’s cargo revealed over 200 amphorae containing trace residues of Indian cardamom and black pepper, along with raw semi-precious stones from the Deccan. This find provides physical evidence of the direct maritime trade link between the Roman Empire and the Sanatan kingdoms of South India.