Fifth century hero stone unearthed in Tamil Nadu village excavation

Archaeologists from the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology have discovered a hero stone inscription dating to the fifth century CE during excavations at Malayadipatti village near Karivalamvandanallur in Tenkasi district. The artefact was retrieved from inside a disused brick well that had been deliberately filled with stones and bricks.

Stone bears transitional script

The hero stone measures one metre in length and 0.30 metre in width. Its inscription is written in a script that represents a transitional phase from Tamil-Brahmi to Vattezhuthu and contains four lines: 'Karukkan', 'Sulagan', 'Nannang' and 'Kodiyan'. Archaeologists believe the inscription commemorates Nannang Kodiyan, son of Karukkan Sulagan.

The well itself dates to the Sangam period and originally featured steps, suggesting it served as a functional water source before falling into disuse in later years.

No warrior depiction

True to the tradition of Sangam and post-Sangam periods, the Malayadipatti hero stone does not carry any carved figure of the warrior it memorialises. Similar hero stones found at Pulimankombai, Aappanur and Mallikapuram also lack such depictions, official sources confirmed.

The Malayadipatti excavations have yielded a range of artefacts that illuminate the life, occupation and trade practices of communities that inhabited the region during the Sangam period.

Source: The Hindu