Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c20.s8.t1.12

c20.s8.t1.12

⁶ A. Thasarathan and B. Kannaiyan (1993: pp. 121-128) who discovered the rock carvings in the cave attribute them to the 'prehistoric period' and describe the figures as the "hieroglyphs of the Tamils which might have been a source for the development of such writings in the Egyptian Pyramids". In a critical review, R. Vasanthakalyani (1994: pp. 23-30) debunks the wildly exaggerated claims of the discoverers; but her dating of the rock carvings in ca. 6th or 7th century A.D. is too late and is perhaps influenced by the presence of the Early Vaṭṭeḻuttu inscription which is, however, much later than the rock carvings in the cave. See the following note.