CHENNAI: A 14th century stone slab with Tamil inscriptions was found in the suburbs of Bengaluru, Karnataka, when the earth was dug for laying foundation for a house on Sunday.
The stone slab at Sadramangala near Hoodi railway station in Krishnarajapura was first sighted by Maniganda, a research scholar in the National Institute of Advanced Studies, and Swaminathan, an IT professional.
“The inscriptions belong to the 13th or 14th century CE on Palaeographical grounds. The beginning of the inscriptions is missing; it is probably on the other side or the top portion which is missing,” said S Rajavelu, epigraphist and professor in Tamil University, Thanjavur, who was sent the image of the inscription.
The inscriptions mention some names from the Brahmin community. Unlike normal stone inscriptions that are done over polished stones, this is done on a rough, unfinished piece, with the engravings done without much attention to detail.
“Maybe this was done by rural sculptors,” Rajavelu added. “Unless the beginning portion of the inscription is not recovered from its vicinity, it is not possible to ascertain the king and dynasty of the inscription,” he said. This one could be from the Chola dynasty or the Hoysala empire period, added the expert.
The Archaeological Survey of India in Karnataka would take custody of the stone slab to be kept in the museum to preserve the ancient Tamil heritage.