Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c8.4

c8.4

| Section | Page | Section | Page |
| 1.1 Introduction | 3 | 1.8.3 Stelae inscriptions: Arasalapuram and Indalur | 30 |
| 1.2 Earliest discoveries (1882-1903) | 4 | 1.8.4 A unique inscribed object: the Erettimalai Stone | 30 |
| 1.2.1 Mangulam: Pāṇḍiya inscriptions of the Caṅkam Age | 4 | 1.8.5 A rock-cut shrine: Pillaiyarpatti | 30 |
| 1.2.2 Edakal: Cēra inscriptions of the Caṅkam Age | 8 | 1.8.6 Early Vaṭṭeluttu inscriptions from outside Tamil Nadu | 31 |
| 1.2.3 Kilavalavu: the earliest reference to Tondi on the east coast | 11 | 1.9 Map showing sites with Early Tamil inscriptions | 36 |
| 1.3 A flood of discoveries (1906-18) | 11 | 1.10 Distribution of Early Tamil inscriptions | 36 |
| 1.3.1 Alagarmalai: endowment by merchants from Madurai | 13 | 1.11 Distribution of Early Vaṭṭeluttu inscriptions | 37 |
| 1.3.2 Sittannavasal: abode of a Jaina nun from Karnataka | 15 | 1.12 Catalogues of Early Tamil inscriptions | 37 |
| 1.4 Waning interest and random discoveries (1926-52) | 16 | **Annexure: Tamil-Brāhmī inscriptions on pottery and other inscribed objects** | |
| 1.4.1 Pugalur: Cēra inscriptions of the Caṅkam Age | 17 | 1.13 Pottery inscriptions | 43 |
| 1.5 Revival of interest: fresh copying of inscriptions (1961-80) | 20 | 1.13.1 Introduction | 43 |
| 1.5.1 Arachalur: musical notations | 21 | 1.13.2 Arikamedu | 43 |
| 1.6 Recent discoveries (1981-2000) | 21 | 1.13.3 Uraiyur | 44 |
| 1.6.1 Jambai: inscription of Atiyaṉ Neṭumāṉ Añci | 23 | 1.13.4 Kodumanal | 44 |
| 1.6.2 Mannarkoil: the earliest reference to a *kaṭikai* (*ghaṭikā*) | 24 | 1.13.5 Alagankulam | 45 |
| 1.7 Physical features of caves with Tamil-Brāhmī inscriptions | 25 | 1.13.6 Other excavated sites with pottery inscriptions | 47 |
| 1.8 Discovery of Early Vaṭṭeluttu inscriptions | 25 | 1.13.7 Other explored sites with pottery inscriptions | 47 |
| 1.8.1 Cave shelters | 27 | 1.13.8 Tamil-Brāhmī pottery inscriptions from outside Tamil Nadu | 48 |
| 1.8.2 Jaina *nicītikai* inscriptions | 29 | 1.13.9 Tamil-Brāhmī pottery inscriptions from outside India | 48 |