Brahmi

The earliest inscription in Malayalam

Eminent epigraphist Iravatham Mahadevan contends that Edakal-5 provides important evidence that the common people of Kerala were already expressing themselves in Malayalam at about the end of the 4th century c.e.

Iravatham Mahadevan

Kodumanal excavation yields a bonanza again

T. S. Subramanian

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The earliest inscription in Malayalam

Iravatham Mahadevan

Coimbatore 22/05/2012. This picture shows a big pot in situ, with the Tamil-Brahmi script reading 'Samban Samanan' which can be dated to first century BCE. While Samban is the name of the father, 'Samanan' is his son. The pot belonged to the Samban family. This important discovery was made in one of the industrial complexes excavated at Kodumanal village in Erode district by the Department of History of Pondicherry University in May 2012. Beads from semi-precious stones such as quartz, carnelian, lapiz-lazuli, beryl, agate and so on were manufactured in this industrial complex.
Photo: K. Ananthan

Kodumanal excavation yields a bonanza again

T. S. Subramanian