Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c20.s10.5

c20.s10.5

The most significant feature of the geographical distribution of the Tamil-Brāhmī inscriptions is their heavy concentration in the southern region (Pāṇṭiya Nāṭu). Even within this region, all but two of the sites are clustered around Madurai within about a day's march from the city (see detail in Map IA). Another significant feature is that most of the Early Tamil-Brāhmī inscriptions are also in the southern region and again mostly around Madurai. The evidence points to the creation of the Tamil-Brāhmī script at Madurai in the Pāṇṭiya kingdom sometime around the end of the 3rd century B.C. and its dissemination to other parts of the Tamil country shortly thereafter.