History Pulicat Lake

sketch of pellacata c. 1602

in 1st century, anonymous mariner wrote periplus of erythraean sea listed podouke (pulicat) 1 of 3 ports on east coast of india. in 2nd century, ptolomey s list of ports on coast included podouke emporion.

in 13th century, arabs migrated shores of lake after banished mecca refusing pay tributes new calif. streets dilapidated masonry houses once occupied these arabian muslims still found in area , resident families claim records in arabic testifying migration. portuguese colonized lake in 16th century followed dutch. dutch drifted lagoon ships got stuck on shores of karimanal village on opposite side of mouth of lake. during dutch occupation, pulicat known name pallaicatta. fort geldria dating 1609, church, cemetery tombs , mausoleums constructed dutch protected archaeological survey of india (asi). dutch transacted business british east india company , other countries in region.

a scientific study of palynological characteristics of lagoon conducted taking sedimentary soil samples 4 test pits. shows vegetational reconstruction peat beds @ 4.98 metres (16.3 ft) a.m.s.l. , 1 metre (3.3 ft) (a.m.s.l.) in west @ sullurpeta , kasdredinilem, respectively, indicative of palaeoshoreline. sea level reached maximum around 6650 plus or minus 110 yrs bp in sullurpeta, 18 kilometres (11 mi) west present shoreline. radiocarbon dates of peat bed @ kasdreddinilem reveals age of 4608 plus or minus 122 yrs bp, indicating shift in mangrove line eastwards during regressive phase.