Hero stone inscription from the Fifth Century unearthed

A hero stone inscription, dating back to the Sangam period, has been unearthed by archaeologists at Malayadipatti village near Karivalamvandanallur in Tenkasi district, where the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) is conducting excavations.

According to official sources in the TNSDA, the inscription was found in a brick well with steps,dating to the Sangam period. , which was in use during the Sangam period. It appears to have fallen into disuse in later years, and subsequently filled with stones and bricks. The hero stone was found among the materials used to fill the well.

Official sources said the hero stone measures 1 m in length and 0.30 m in width.

The inscription on the hero stone is in a script representing a transitional stage from Tamil-Brahmi to Vattezhuthu. It contains four lines: ‘Karukkan’, ‘Sulagan’, ‘Nannang’ and ‘Kodiyan’. Archaeologists interpret it as an indication that the hero stone was erected in memory of Nannang Kodiyan, son of Karukkan Sulagan in the Fifth Century.

During the Sangam and post-Sangam periods, figures were not carved on hero stones. Those found at Pulimankombai, Aappanur and Mallikapuram, for instance, do not bear depictions of the warriors. Similarly, the hero stone unearthed at Malayadipatti does not depict the warrior, official sources further said.

Excavations at Malayadipatti have revealed a range of artefacts that shed light on the life, occupation, and trade of the people who lived there during the Sangam period.