Artefacts with Tamil-Brahmi script unearthed at Keeladi to find a special place in museum

The first floor has been earmarked for artefacts that justify the high level of literacy prevailing during the Sangam age

The upcoming museum at Keeladi would house various artefacts with Tamil-Brahmi scripts and graffiti engraved on them similar to that of Indus Valley script. These artefacts were unearthed during the many seasons of excavations.

The sixth block is designated for showcasing artefacts that fall under the lifestyle category. The first floor has been earmarked for the artefacts that justify the high level of literacy prevailing during the Sangam age, said R. Sivanantham, Commissioner (in-charge), State Archaeology Department.

They include the many path-breaking findings such as potsherds inscribed with graffiti – which is a preliminary writing expression of the Iron Age people, undeciphered signs similar to that of the Indus Valley script as well as names in ‘Tamili.’

“For the naked eye, it may be a mere scratch mark but it holds much more value”, say archaeologists.

According to the State Department of Archaeology’s (SDA) publication in 2019, Keeladi: An Urban Settlement of Sangam Age on the Banks of River Vaigai, ‘Tamili’ – the Tamil-Brahmi script – was dated to the 5th century BCE before the Keeladi findings pushed it back to another century – 6th century BCE.

The report includes a comparison of five Keeladi graffiti and Indus signs that are quite similar. Graffiti marks were prevalent between Indus script and Brahmi script. Mr Sivanantham noted that over 1,500 and 60 artefacts with graffiti and Tamili inscriptions respectively have been unearthed so far in Keeladi excavation clusters.

The graffiti on pots, earthenware, urns, bone tools, iron weapons, and in caves and rocks near the excavation sites are crucial findings which induces debate of the date of Tamil-Brahmi.