Excavations at Sopara (Nala Sopara), the historic port of the Satavahana Empire, have revealed the foundations of a Roman merchant colony. The discovery of Mediterranean-style basalt foundations, intact marble fountains, and a hoard of silver denarii points to a permanent residency of European traders on the Indian west coast.
The site includes a shared marketplace where Roman wine and glass were traded for Indian textiles and spices. Archaeologists also found unique bilingual seals in Greek and Brahmi, belonging to a 'Maritime Guild of the Satavahanas,' indicating a high level of institutionalized international cooperation 2,100 years ago.