2402:8100:39E5:7210:2800:D335:D4DD:E1E6: /* 1st century BCE */

2021-08-30T17:42:25Z

1st century BCE

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{{short description|Wikimedia list article}}
{{Expand list|date=January 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
[[File:Mangulam inscription.jpg|thumb|300px|3rd century BCE [[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] inscription of [[Mangulam]]]]
{{Tamils}}
[[File:Jambai Tamil Brahmi.jpg|thumb|1st century BCE. [[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] inscription found in [[Jambai village]], [[Tamil Nadu]]]]

[[File:Samanar Padukkai.jpg|thumb|250px|Stone beds with [[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] script inscriptions of Jain saints in [[Sittanavasal]], [[Pudukkottai District]], 1st century BCE]]
[[File:Peravatan 's Tamil Silver Ring 1st Century BCE.jpg|thumb|250px|1st Century BCE. Silver Ring From [[Karur]], [[Tamil Nadu]] with Personal Name "Peravatan" in [[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] script]]
{{TNhistory}}
{{HistoryOfSouthAsia}}
This is a list of archaeological [[Artifact (archaeology)|artefacts]] and [[Epigraphy|epigraphs]] which have '''Tamil inscriptions'''. Of the approximately 100,000 inscriptions found by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (2005 report) in India, about 60,000 were in [[Tamil Nadu]]<ref>{{cite news |title= Students get glimpse of heritage |url= http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/22/stories/2005112215970400.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060518064346/http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/22/stories/2005112215970400.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= 18 May 2006 |author= Staff Reporter |date = 22 November 2005 |access-date= 2007-04-26 |work= [[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

== Ancient Tamil Epigraphy ==

* [[Adichanallur|Burial of Adichanallur]], [[Tamil Nadu]] found with graffiti and [[Tamil-Brahmi|Tamili]] script<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/adichanallur-site-belongs-to-a-period-between-905-and-696-bc-madurai-high-court/article26737779.ece|title=Adichanallur site belongs to a period between 905 and 696 BC|last=Chandar|first=B. Tilak|date=2019-04-05|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-09-20|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/the-ghosts-of-adichanallur/article22431890.ece|title=The ghosts of Adichanallur: Artefacts that suggest an ancient Tamil civilisation of great sophistication|date=13 January 2018|publisher=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/17/stories/2005021704471300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012142602/http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/17/stories/2005021704471300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 October 2009|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Rudimentary Tamil-Brahmi script' unearthed at Adichanallur|date=17 February 2005}}</ref>
* [[Keeladi excavation site]] found with [[Tamizhi|Tamili]] inscriptions in various structures and artifacts, on pottery with Tamil names such as '''Aathan, Uthiran, Kuviran-Aathan''' and '''Thisan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2019/sep/19/sangam-civilisation-older-than-thought-says-new-report-2036042.html|title=Sangam civilisation older than thought, says new report|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2019-09-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/keeladi-findings-traceable-to-6th-century-bce-report/article29461583.ece|title=Keezhadi excavations: Sangam era older than previously thought, finds study|last=Jesudasan|first=Dennis S.|date=2019-09-20|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-09-21|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>'''

=== 6th century BCE ===

*[[Annaicoddai seal]] ([[steatite]] [[Seal (emblem)|seal]]), [[Tamizhi|Tamili]] inscriptions mixed in with Megalithic Graffiti Symbols found in Annaicoddai, '''[[Sri Lanka]]''', {{circa|lk=no|1000 BCE|300 BCE}}<ref>Rajan, K (2008), "Situating the Beginning of Early Historic Times in Tamil Nadu: Some Issues and Reflections", Social Scientist, 36 (1/2): 40–78</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Mahadevan|first=Iravatham|year=2002|title=Aryan or Dravidian or Neither? – A Study of Recent Attempts to Decipher the Indus Script (1995–2000)|url=http://www.ejvs.laurasianacademy.com/ejvs0801/ejvs0801.txt|journal=Electronic Journal of Vedic Studies|volume=8|issue=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070723121117/http://www.ejvs.laurasianacademy.com/ejvs0801/ejvs0801.txt|archive-date=23 July 2007|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

=== 5th century BCE ===

*Potsherds found in [[kodumanal]] and Porunthal<ref>{{Cite book
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VAb9CgAAQBAJ&q=Tamil-Brahmi
| title=A Companion to South Asia in the Past
| last1=Roger D. Gwen Robbins Schug| first1=Subhash R. Walimbe
| publisher = Wiley-Blackwell | year=2016| isbn = 978-1-119-05548-8| page = 311
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book
| url=http://iks.iitgn.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Iron-Age%E2%80%93Early-Historical-transition-in-South-India-K-Rajan.pdf
| title=Iron Age - Early Historic Transition in South India
| last1=K. Rajan| publisher = Institute of Archaeology | year=2014| page = 9
}}</ref><ref name="thehindu.com">{{cite news|title=Porunthal excavations prove existence of Indian scripts in 5th century BC: expert|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/porunthal-excavations-prove-existence-of-indian-scripts-in-5th-century-bc-expert/article2538550.ece|newspaper=THE HINDU | location=Chennai, India|first=Kavita|last=Kishore|date=15 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="at Kodumanal near Chennimalai">{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/kodumanal-reveals-more-hidden-gems/article4731632.ece | title=Tamil Brahmi script dating to 500 BC found near Erode at Kodumanal near Chennimalai. | newspaper=The newindianexpress | location=Chennai, India | first=T.S. | last=Subramanian | date=20 May 2013}}</ref>

*Tamizh script dating to 500 BCE found at Porunthal site is located 12 km South West of [[Palani]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
*Tamizh script dating to 500 BCE found at Kodumanal, Chennimalai near [[Erode]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
*[[Punch-marked coins]] of 5th century BCE found at [[Karur]], on the bank of river Amaravathi, is located at 78 km from [[Tiruchirappalli]], [[Tamil Nadu]]<ref>http://www.tnarch.gov.in/sitemus/mus11.htm</ref>
* A terracotta weight holder with inscriptions in Tamizh has been excavated by archaeologists at a megalithic site in Periya Thadagam, on [[Coimbatore]] outskirts, [[Tamil Nadu]], 5th – 3rd century BCE<ref>{{cite news |title=Tamil Brahmi letters found in archaeological exploration |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/books-and-art/021116/tamil-brahmi-letters-found-in-archaeological-exploration.html |access-date=1 February 2019 |work=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |date=2 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Megalithic site discovered near Thadagam |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/Megalithic-site-discovered-near-Thadagam/article16440334.ece |access-date=1 February 2019 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=9 November 2016}}</ref>

The Tamizh script on the black and red, four-cm-long ‘thangi’ read ‘thavan sathan’, which meant meditating hermit

=== 4th century BCE ===

*Ancient Pottery dating back to the 4th century BCE have been discovered off shore by marine archaeologists east of [[Poompuhar]], also known as Kaveripattinam is a town in the [[Nagapattinam district]] of [[Tamil Nadu]]. Kaveripattnam was a thriving ancient capital port city of the '''[[Early Cholas|Early Chola Empire]]'''.<ref>''Marine archaeological explorations of Tranquebar-Poompuhar region on Tamil Nadu coast'', Rao, S.R.. ''Journal of Marine Archaeology'', Vol. II, July 1991. Available online at [http://drs.nio.org/drs/bitstream/2264/3295/2/Mar_Archaeol_2_5.pdf]</ref>

=== 3rd century BCE ===

*[[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] inscriptions in caves, [[Mangulam]], [[Madurai district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], 3rd century BCE<ref name="Bengtson2008">{{cite book|author=John D. Bengtson|title=In Hot Pursuit of Language in Prehistory: Essays in the Four Fields of Anthropology : in Honor of Harold Crane Fleming|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xxcdjUGfx40C&pg=PA427|date=January 2008|publisher=John Benjamins Publishing|isbn=978-90-272-3252-6|pages=427–}}</ref><ref name="Mahadevan2003">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DZBkAAAAMAAJ&q=mangulam+iravatham+mahadevan | title=Early Tamil epigraphy from the earliest times to the sixth century A.D. | publisher=Harvard University Press | author=Iravatham Mahadevan | year=2003 | isbn=978-0-674-01227-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TRxJDwAAQBAJ&q=Mangulam+3rd+century&pg=PA43 | title=Reading History with the Tamil Jainas: A Study on Identity, Memory and Marginalisation | publisher=Springer | author=R. Umamaheshwari | year=2018| isbn=978-81-322-3756-3| page = 43}}</ref>

There are five caves in the hill of which six inscriptions are found in four caves.<ref>https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/Jaina-treasure-trove-in-Mankulam-village/article16343571.ece</ref> These were inscribed during [[Sangam period]], hence it is considered as one of the important inscriptions in Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/an-epigraphic-perspective-on-the-antiquity-of-tamil/article482654.ece | title=An epigraphic perspective on the antiquity of Tamil | work=The Hindu | date=24 June 2010 | access-date=23 February 2014}}</ref> The inscriptions mentions that workers of '''''[[Nedunjeliyan I|Nedunchezhiyan I]]'', a [[Pandyan]] king of Sangam period''', (c. 270 BCE) made stone beds for Jain monks. It further details the name of worker for whom he made stone bed. For example, an inscription shows that Kadalan Vazhuthi, a worker of Nedunchezhiyan made stone bed to Jain monk Nanda Sirikuvan.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tamilvu.org/tdb/titles_cont/inscription/html/mankulam.htm | title=மாங்குளம் தமிழ்க் கல்வெட்டுக்கள் | publisher=[[Tamil Virtual University]] | access-date=23 February 2014 | language=ta}}</ref> It is one of the [[List of State Protected Monuments in Tamil Nadu|protected monuments in Tamil Nadu]] by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_protected_monu_tamil_nadu.asp | title=Protected Monuments in Tamil Nadu | publisher=Archaeological Survey of India | access-date=25 February 2014 | quote=S. No.8 — Ovamalai Kalvettu (inscriptions)}}</ref>

*Artifact related to '''[[Early Pandyan Kingdom]]'s King ''[[Nedunjeliyan I|Nedunchezhiyan I]]''''' (c. 270 BCE) found in [[Kovalanpottal]], [[Madurai district]], [[Tamil Nadu]]<ref>http://www.tnarch.gov.in/excavation/kov.htm</ref><ref>[https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/approval-needed-for-excavation/article4461307.ece Approval needed for excavation] The Hindu, 28 February 2013</ref>
*Potsherds with [[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] script found in [[Korkai]], [[Tuticorin district|Thoothukudi district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], 3rd century BCE<ref>http://www.tnarch.gov.in/excavation/kor.htm</ref>
*[[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] inscription, dating back to 3rd century BCE, engraved in a cave where early Jain monks were said to have resided found in Arittapatti village, [[Madurai district]], [[Tamil Nadu]]<ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/3rd-century-BC-inscription-discovered/articleshow/179977.cms</ref><ref>[https://www.thehindu.com/2003/09/15/stories/2003091503060500.htm ]{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
*[[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] script dating back to the 3rd century BCE near Thenur, [[Madurai]], [[Tamil Nadu]]. Script is written in gold bar<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Thenur-gold-treasure-found-four-years-ago-is-2300-years-old-recent-study-reveals/articleshow/23754735.cms Thenur gold treasure found four years ago is 2300 years' old, recent study reveals]</ref>
*[[Black and red ware]] potsherd with [[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] inscriptions in Ucchapanai, [[Kandarodai]], Jaffna, '''[[Sri Lanka]]''', 3rd century BCE<ref>S. Krishnarajah (2004). University of Jaffna. Archaeology Department</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2010/08/people-and-cultures-of-prehistoric-sri_21.html|title=The people and cultures of prehistoric Sri Lanka – Part Three|last=Thiagarajah|first=Siva|year=2010|publisher=The Sri Lanka Guardian|access-date=14 October 2011}}</ref>

=== 2nd century BCE ===

*Black and red ware piece containing [[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] inscription found in [[Mangudi (Thanjavur district)|Mangudi]], [[Tirunelveli District]], [[Tamil Nadu]], 2nd century BCE<ref>http://www.tnarch.gov.in/excavation/man.htm</ref>
The inscription has been deciphered as "Kurummangala Athan yi Yanai Po"

*[[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] inscription in [[Samanamalai]], [[Madurai district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], 2nd century BCE<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article3220674.ece 2,200-year-old Tamil-Brahmi inscription found on Samanamalai]. The Hindu (2012-03-24). Retrieved on 2013-07-28.</ref>
It reads as "Peru Thorur Kunra Ko Ayam" or "Peru Tho Ur Uzhithegne Ayam" or "Peru Te Rur Kuzhiththai Ayam"

*Potsherds with [[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] inscriptions found in [[Poonakari|Poonagari]], [[Jaffna]], '''[[Sri Lanka]]''', 2nd century BCE<ref name=IM48>{{Harvnb|Mahadevan|2003|page=48}}</ref>
*[[Arikamedu#Excavations|Arikamedu Excavations]], as its ancient commercial link with the '''[[Roman Empire|Romans]]''' has been established, It is one of the ''[[Silk Road sites in India]]'', 2nd century BCE

=== 1st century BCE ===

*[[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] script Rock-cavern inscription in [[Jambai village]], [[Tiruvannamalai District]], [[Tamil Nadu]], 1st century BCE
It reads "Satiyaputo Atiyan Nedumaan Anjji itta Paali", In ({{lang-ta|ஸதியபுதோ அதியந் நெடுமாந் அஞ்சி ஈத்த பாழி}}).<ref>K. Selvaraj, "Jambai oru aayvu", State Department of Archeology, Chennai</ref> The meaning of the epigraph may be rendered as "The abode (pali) given by (itta) Atiyan Nedumaan Anji (name), the Satyaputra (title)". Though the record is a short one in a single line, it throws valuable light on various aspects of South Indian history. The inscription clears the doubt about the identity of the [[Athiyamān|Satyaputras]], a dynasty of rulers, mentioned in Ashoka's inscriptions in the 3rd century BCE<ref>http://tamilartsacademy.com/books/roman%20karur/chapter13.html</ref>

*A broken storage jar with inscriptions in [[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] script in Quseir-al-Qadim, (Leukos Limen) '''[[Egypt]]''', 1st century BCE. Two earlier [[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] inscription discoveries at the same site, 1st century BCE.<ref name=Egypt>{{cite news | title= Tamil Brahmi script in Egypt| date=21 November 2007 | publisher=[[The Hindu]] | url =http://www.hinduonnet.com/2007/11/21/stories/2007112158412400.htm | access-date = 2007-12-06 }}</ref>
The inscribed text is {{Script/Brahmi|𑀧𑀸𑀦𑁃 𑀑𑀶𑀺}} ''paanai oRi'' "pot suspended in a rope net" (which would be பானை ஒறி in the modern [[Tamil script]])<ref>[http://archaeologyindia.com/tamilinscriptions.asp Tamil Inscriptions] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130117153259/http://archaeologyindia.com/tamilinscriptions.asp |date=2013-01-17 }}. Archaeologyindia.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-28.</ref>

*An inscribed amphora fragment in Tamil at the ancient [[Ptolemy|Ptolemic]]-[[Ancient Rome|Roman]] settlement of [[Berenice Troglodytica]], '''[[Egypt]]''', 1st century BCE<ref name=Egypt/>
*Potsherd with [[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] script found in '''[[Oman]]''', 1st century BCE<ref>[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/potsherd-with-tamilbrahmi-script-found-in-oman/article4038866.ece]. The Hindu (2012-03-24)</ref>
*[[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] script found on [[Tirupparankundram]] hill, [[Madurai]], 1st century BCE<ref>{{cite news|title=Tamil-Brahmi script discovered on Tirupparankundram hill|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/tamilbrahmi-script-discovered-on-tirupparankundram-hill/article4412125.ece|newspaper=THEHINDU | location=Chennai, India|first=T. S.|last=Subramanian|date=14 February 2013}}</ref>
it reads as "Muu-na-ka-ra" and "Muu-ca-ka-ti"

*[[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] script Rock Bed Inscription for Jain Monks in [[Sittanavasal]], [[Pudukkottai District]], [[Tamil Nadu]], 1st century BCE<ref name="tnarch.gov.in">http://www.tnarch.gov.in/epi/ins1.htm</ref>
It reads as "Eruminatu kumul-ur piranta kavuti-i tenku-cirupocil ilayar ceyta atit-anam"

*Silver Ring From [[Karur]], [[Tamil Nadu]] with Personal Name "Peravatan" in [[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] script, 1st Century BCE<ref name="tnarch.gov.in"/>
*Megalithic pottery with graffiti symbols that have a strong resemblance to a sign in the [[Indus script]] have been found in Sembiyankandiyur and Melaperumpallam villages, [[Nagapattinam district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], 1st Century BCE<ref>{{cite news | last=Subramaniam | first=T. S. | title= From Indus Valley to coastal Tamil Nadu | date=1 May 2006 | url = http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/03/stories/2008050353942200.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080506065250/http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/03/stories/2008050353942200.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = 6 May 2008 | work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref>http://www.tnarch.gov.in/excavation/Sembiankandiyur.htm</ref>
*Hundreds of potsherds of the Mediterranean region which include rouletted ware, amphorae jar pieces and pieces of red ware with [[Tamizhi|Tamizh]] script have been found in [[Alagankulam]], [[Ramanathapuram District]], [[Tamil Nadu]], 1st century BCE<ref>http://www.tnarch.gov.in/excavation/ala.htm</ref>

== First millennium AD ==
{{Empty section|date=February 2019}}

== See also ==
{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Tamizhi|Tamizh]]
* [[Tamil script]]
* [[Tamil inscriptions in the Malay world]]
* [[Tamil bell|Tamil bell In New Zealand]]
* [[Tamil copper-plate inscriptions]]
* [[Indian copper plate inscriptions]]
* [[Laguna Copperplate Inscription]]
* [[Tissamaharama Tamil Brahmi inscription|Tamil Brahmi inscription of Tissamaharama]]
* [[Pallava script]]
* [[History of Tamil Nadu]]
* [[Chronology of Tamil history]]
* [[Tamil Heritage Foundation]]
* [[Early Indian epigraphy]]
* [[Tamil inscriptions in Sri Lanka]]
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tnarch.gov.in/default.htm Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department]
*[https://wanderingfakhir.in/f/rajadhiraja-inscription-from-manimangalam Inscription of Rajadhiraja from Manimangalam]
{{Tamil language}}

[[Category:Tamil inscriptions| ]]
[[Category:Archaeological Survey of India]]
[[Category:Tamil language]]
[[Category:Tamil diaspora in Asia]]
[[Category:Sri Lanka inscriptions]]
[[Category:Tamil Brahmi script]]
[[Category:Ancient Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Tamilakam]]

Tamil inscriptions - Revision history

2402:8100:39E5:7210:2800:D335:D4DD:E1E6: /* 1st century BCE */