Dr. Lucy Katherine Blue

The principle aim of this project was to undertake an initial one year programme of research into a unique type of traditional Indian craft - the kattimaran or tied/lashed-log raft as literally translated in Tamil, and to compile a comprehensive record of the nature of its construction and distribution throughout southern India. The second aim was to begin to address through an analysis of the great variety of shapes of this particular type of craft, the complex reasons why particular vessels are built and used in particular places and, given the antiquity of this vessel, how that may have changed over time. Katumaram provide an ideal craft with which to undertake an enquiry of this nature as their construction varies from region to region, yet the environment and fishing operations are relatively similar. Our results so far confirm this view; not only have we identified and recorded specific archetypes and defined their areas of operation, but we have also begun to address the reaons why there is such variety, which are complex and various dependent upon where you are and who you speak to. Fieldwork was carried out between December 2005 and January 2006. Affiliation and collaboration were secured with the Centre for Heritage Studies in Ernakulam, Kerala, the Kerala Council for Historic Research and SASTRA deemed University, Tamil Nadu. The project was also supported by the Society for South Asian Studies (UK). We hope (2006) to extend this project over the next two years to study kattumaram in Andhra Pradesh, southern Orissa and those areas of northern Tamilnadu not yet visited. It is also our intention to puruse further communications with groups such as SIFFS to gain alternative perspectives on the development of the kattumaram over the last decades and to access more detailed meteorological and geographical data relating to the coastal areas under study. We believe tthat the continued study of all available data will lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the criteria that influence choice in the construction of both contemporary kattumaram and vessels constructed in antiquity.