Underwater surveys off the coast of Kerala have identified a sunken trade hub associated with the 'Hematite-and-Spices' Route. Using autonomous deep-sea drones, researchers mapped a 1,700-year-old maritime link that connected the Axumite Empire of modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea with the Chera Dynasty ports of South India. The discovery of iron-rich hematite ingots alongside peppercorns and Roman coinage suggests a robust exchange of industrial minerals for luxury spices.
This route highlights the Axumites' role as critical intermediaries in the Indian Ocean trade network, operating far beyond the Red Sea. The site includes well-preserved timber hull fragments and storage jars, which are providing new evidence of the ship-building techniques used for trans-oceanic voyages during the Late Antiquity period. The findings are expected to redefine historical models of Indo-African economic relations.