Hero stone inscription from the Fifth Century unearthed

An ancient hero stone inscription, dating back to the Sangam period, has been discovered by archaeologists in the Malayadipatti village near Karivalamvandanallur in Tenkasi district, Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) is currently conducting excavations in the area. The inscription, found in a brick well with steps, appears to have been in use during the Sangam period but fell out of use later and was filled with stones and bricks.

Measuring 1 meter in length and 0.30 meters in width, the hero stone features an inscription in a transitional script between Tamil-Brahmi and Vattezhuthu. The four lines of the inscription, "Karukkan," "Sulagan," "Nannang," and "Kodiyan," suggest that it commemorates Nannang Kodiyan, son of Karukkan Sulagan, who lived in the Fifth Century.

Unlike earlier inscriptions, this hero stone does not depict the warrior, indicating a shift in the representation style during the Sangam and post-Sangam periods. Excavations at Malayadipatti have uncovered various artifacts that provide insights into the life, occupation, and trade of the people living there during the Sangam period.