Ancient pottery with graffiti found near Pudukottai

Almost a decade ago, archaeologists confirmed that the Neolithic people of Tamil Nadu shared the same language family of the Harappan group following the finding of Neolithic celts at Sembian Kandiyur near Mayiladuthurai. The symbol was first identified from pottery graffiti at Sanur, near Tindivanam followed by Mangudi and Tirunelveli. Epigraphists found that the signs corresponded with the characters in the Indus script.
Meanwhile, a team of amateur archaeologist unearthed ancient pottery remains near Pudukkottai a couple of days ago. The damaged potteries with graffiti marks were found to be a primitive form of written script that is similar to that of the graffiti found in other parts of the state. Based on the information from a local resident, members of Pudukkottai Archaeological Research Foundation had gone on an explorative study at Ramasamypuram, Mangalanadu- Ambalathidal.
The site is spread across 173 acres and located in the banks of Villuni River, in the boundaries of Ramasamypuram and Mangalanadu, which is filled with black and red pottery pieces, along with burnt out metal, mud casting for metal shapes and crystal stones, says archaeology enthusiast and founder of the foundation A Manikandan.
"The graffiti found here on pots are of two types, one is phonetic and the other is a pictograph. The pictograph looks like an upside down trident. The Greek archaeological experts opine that these symbols depicts the burial site of a warrior," he told TOI.
However, he says that according to some, it is a simple mark of pot makers. "These kind of marks are found in Sri Lanka, Greece, and various ancient archaeological sites in India. In this light, the symbols and pictograph must be the universal language of the ancient times. The bones and other remains found at the site should be send for carbon dating and the foundation is taking proper steps to find the actual time of the civilization," Manikandan said.
He said the site is covered with ancient pottery with graffiti marks. "These ancient graffiti was initially mentioned by A Sundara in the year 1881. The markings may be 3,000-4,000 years old and might have been developed in to a written script, which latter developed as Thamizi," he said.
The team has found several other archaeological artifacts. A calcium and mortar flooring, mud rolls and ruined circular base for kilns or some other structure were also found at the site.
"The archaeological sites of Karur, Uraiyur, Alagankulam, Vallam and Kodumanal, have pots with graffiti markings. The lower part has Tamizhi writing and the upper part has graffiti marking. This is also an evidence that these markings are primitive forms of written script," Manikandan added.