[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Archaeology, epigraphy and coins](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy) › [Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D.](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003) › c8.4 # Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c8.4 Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c8.4 - **Language:** English ### [c8.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.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 | - [Previous: c8.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c8.3) - [Next: c8.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c8.5) - [Up: c8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c8) ## Linked texts (2) - [Uṟaiyūr](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.uraiyur) - [Aḻakaṉkuḷam](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.alagankulam) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c8.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c8.4) · Pramāṇa