Stories
Pallava Era Inscription Discovered in Pennagar
- •An 8-line inscription belonging to the 20th regnal year of Pallava king Kambavarman, dated 870 CE, was discovered in Pennagar near Gingee.
- •The discovery was made during a field study led by retired headmaster Munusamy and Professor Sudhakar along with college students.
- •The inscription reveals how a person named Araiyan from Thenur cleared forests to create agricultural lands and new settlements during the Pallava period.
- •Researchers have requested the government and local public to protect this valuable historical treasure from damage.
Key Questions Answered
Discovered during a field study in Pennagar village near Gingee, this 8-line inscription dates back to 870 CE, which marks the 20th regnal year of the Pallava king Kambavarman. It highlights how an individual named Araiyan from Thenur cleared forests to establish agricultural lands, leveled northern terrain, settled citizens, and founded a village, providing critical insight into Pallava-era agricultural expansion and settlement creation.
The field study team was led by retired headmaster Munusamy, alongside Sudhakar, a professor in the Department of Tamil at the Gingee Government Arts and Science College, and third-year Tamil department students. They located the 8-line inscription on a rock situated on land belonging to Stalin along the Pennagar to Karunguzhi road.
Professor Sudhakar has urged both the local public and the government to take prompt action to protect this ancient historical inscription from suffering damage. Serving as a rare historical artifact from the Pallava period, safeguarding it ensures that its cultural and historical value is preserved for the future.
