Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c21.s17.t3.1

c21.s17.t3.1

A few direct photographs of inscriptions where circumstances were favourable for good photography have also been included. As the estampages of the historically important inscriptions at Mangulam (No. *1*) and Pugalur (No. *61*) are virtually illegible for technically irremediable reasons, special arrangements were made to secure good colour photographs ² direct from the stone and enhance their clarity by computer processing.³ By way of control, a photograph of the estampage of another inscription of Neṭuñceḻiyaṉ at Mangulam (No. *2*) has been similarly processed by computer.⁴ A unique direct photograph, taken in extreme dry weather of the Early Vaṭṭeḻuttu inscription (No. *120*) at Ezhuttukallu, Kerala, which is submerged in water for most of the year, has also been included after computer processing.⁵ If the results of the experiment are received favourably, a way would be open to document the other Early Tamil inscriptions also by colour photography and computer processing to preserve them for posterity.⁶