09-29-2006, 05:43 AM
<span style='color:red'>Hero stones of third century BC found on the bank of the river Vaigai about 16 km south of Batlagundu, TN</span>
<img src='http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/24/images/2006092406750301.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->DISCOVERY: Hero stones discovered by Department of Epigraphy and Archaeology, Tamil University.
Thanjavur: Hero stones inscribed with Tamil-Brahmi script datable to third century BC have been discovered by the faculty of the Department of Epigraphy and Archaeology, Tamil University, Thanjavur, at Thathapatti in Nilakottai taluk of Dindigul district.
Briefing presspersons, C. Subramaniam, Vice-Chancellor, Tamil University, said on Friday that it was a remarkable discovery made by V. P. Yatheeshkumar working under the leadership of K. Rajan, Head of the Department of Epigraphy and Archaeology.
The discovery was part of the archaeological project on Archaeology of Vaigai River Valley funded by University Grants Commission and for the project on Historical Atlas of South India funded by Ford Foundation.
The stone was found on a menhir installed as part of urn burial.
It was found on the southern bank of river Vaigai about 16 km south of Batlagundu.
This is for the first time Brahmi inscribed hero stone was noticed on a menhir. This remarkable and breakthrough discovery throws new challenges to the archaeologists and scholars, the Vice-Chancellor said.
The original height of the stone would have been more than 200 cm. It has 13 letters engraved in a single line.
link
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1. Experts, what is the significance of this?
2. Did the ancient Indians always bury the dead? If so, when did the custom change to burning the dead bodies?
3. WHy is Ford Foundation funding such archeological research?
<img src='http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/24/images/2006092406750301.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->DISCOVERY: Hero stones discovered by Department of Epigraphy and Archaeology, Tamil University.
Thanjavur: Hero stones inscribed with Tamil-Brahmi script datable to third century BC have been discovered by the faculty of the Department of Epigraphy and Archaeology, Tamil University, Thanjavur, at Thathapatti in Nilakottai taluk of Dindigul district.
Briefing presspersons, C. Subramaniam, Vice-Chancellor, Tamil University, said on Friday that it was a remarkable discovery made by V. P. Yatheeshkumar working under the leadership of K. Rajan, Head of the Department of Epigraphy and Archaeology.
The discovery was part of the archaeological project on Archaeology of Vaigai River Valley funded by University Grants Commission and for the project on Historical Atlas of South India funded by Ford Foundation.
The stone was found on a menhir installed as part of urn burial.
It was found on the southern bank of river Vaigai about 16 km south of Batlagundu.
This is for the first time Brahmi inscribed hero stone was noticed on a menhir. This remarkable and breakthrough discovery throws new challenges to the archaeologists and scholars, the Vice-Chancellor said.
The original height of the stone would have been more than 200 cm. It has 13 letters engraved in a single line.
link
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
1. Experts, what is the significance of this?
2. Did the ancient Indians always bury the dead? If so, when did the custom change to burning the dead bodies?
3. WHy is Ford Foundation funding such archeological research?