Muziris Heritage Project and Regional Archive Digitalisation
We are happy to announce that the Muziris Heritage Project became the 13th member of the Dutch Trading Post Heritage Network, as they signed on to the network during the last meeting in Melaka, Malaysia. As the first member from India they represent various heritage sites built by the VOC in the 17th and 18th century among which a heritage building that was built by the Dutch for the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Kochi. This site is called the Paliam Palace and is part of the Muziris Heritage Project and currently functions as a museum. The Dutch traded in Kochi and several other forts along the Malabar coast from the mid-17th to the late 18th century. Other sites in the Muziris Area include the former Paravur Synagogue (pictured below), Kottappuram Fort, a tax officer's house and other sites.
Apart from the built heritage, such as the Paliam Palace and other sights in the Muziris area and Kochi city, there is also remaining archive material. The announcement that the Dutch goverment will support the digitalisation of archive material of the Regional Archives in Ernakulam is a welcome one and we hope it will be beneficial to future research into the rich local history of this ancient civilization.
