 Begley obtained approvals to carry out excavations at the site in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Madras ; she and K.V. Raman were the directors of operation from 1989 to 1992 . Steven Sidebothom of the University of Delaware , who had back ground knowledge of Roman Egypt , was in charge of the trenching at the site . Further excavations were done during six working seasons from 1989 to 1992 , which led to a contradictory view that the brick structures and the wells investigated by Wheeler were of poor quality as they were founded on poor sandy foundations . The wood work was also noted to be of poor quality and the houses had no waterproofing . The excavations also lead to a view that Arikamedu 's Roman trading link was more of an inference . The excavations have now established that the trading with Rome extended to a period beyond that assessed by Wheeler ; that trading continued from the second century BCE to the seventh or eighth century CE . 
 Begley obtained approvals to carry out excavations at the site in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Madras ; she and K.V. Raman <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> the directors of operation from 1989 to 1992 . Steven Sidebothom of the University of Delaware , <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>who</mark></a>had back ground knowledge of Roman Egypt , was in charge of the trenching at the site . Further excavations <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> done during six working seasons from 1989 to 1992 , which led to a contradictory view that the brick structures and the wells investigated by Wheeler <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> of poor quality as they <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> founded on poor sandy foundations . The wood work was also noted to be of poor quality and the houses had no waterproofing . The excavations also lead to a view that Arikamedu <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>Roman trading link was more of an inference . The excavations <a href='been_done' title='7'><mark>have</mark></a> now established that the trading with Rome extended to a period beyond that assessed by Wheeler ; that trading continued from the second century BCE to the seventh or eighth century CE . 
Begley obtained approvals to carry out excavations at the site in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania and da University of Madras ; she and K.V. Raman was the directors of operation from 1989 to 1992 . Steven Sidebothom of the University of Delaware , had back ground knowledge of Roman Egypt , was in charge of the trenching at tdasite . Further excavations was done durin six working seasons from 1989 to 1992 , which led to a contradictory view that thdarick structures and the wells investigated by Wheeler was of poor quality as they was founded on poor sandy foundations . Thedaod work was also noted to b of poor quality and the dases had no waterproofing . The excavations also lead to a view that Arikamedu  Roman trading link was more of an inference . The edavations done now established that the trading wit Rome extended to a period beyond that assessed by Wheeler ; that trading continued from the second century BCE to the seventh or eighth century CE .