Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.9

c28.9

The Corpus comprises 110 inscriptions arranged in an approximate chronological sequence. The first 89 inscriptions from 30 sites are in the Tamil-Brāhmī script; the remaining 21 inscriptions from 12 sites are in the Early Vaṭṭeḻuttu script. The Tamil-Brāhmī and Early Vaṭṭeḻuttu inscriptions are arranged in separate sections with serial numbers *1-89* and *101-121* respectively. Inscriptions from the same site are grouped together and numbered serially in each site; however, where Tamil-Brāhmī and Early Vaṭṭeḻuttu inscriptions occur at the same site, they are included in the respective sections, and the sites in such cases are marked with the suffixes A and B respectively. Names and serial numbers (in roman numerals) of the sites and the serial numbers of inscriptions (in each site) are printed at the top of each page. The name of the site is also repeated in the Tamil script as guide to pronunciation. The consecutive serial numbers of inscriptions in the Corpus (Nos. *1-89* and *101-121*) are in bold italics at top left of each inscription. For more particulars on sites and inscriptions, see catalogues of Tamil-Brāhmī and Early Vaṭṭeḻuttu Inscriptions (Tables 1.2 and 1.3 respectively).