Epigraphy plays a vital role in tracing socio-political, cultural history: Thangam Thennarasu

Epigraphy is much more than the study of ancient inscriptions and is a vital discipline that enables us to understand the evolution of society across political, social, economic, cultural, and technological dimensions, said Minister for Finance and Archaeology Thangam Thennarasu in Chennai on Wednesday (February 11, 2026).

Speaking at the inauguration of a four-day International Conference on Tamil Epigraphy organised by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA), Mr. Thennarasu said, unlike literary sources, inscriptions possess a unique authenticity. Being engraved on permanent materials such as stone or metal, they are largely free from later interpolations and biases, offering us an unfiltered and reliable reflection of the realities of the past.

In the Indian context, epigraphy has played a foundational role in historical reconstruction. With over one lakh inscriptions documented across South India, Tamil Nadu alone accounts for approximately 30,000 inscriptions, providing an unbroken chronological record from the 6^th century BCE to the colonial period, he said.

This vast body of evidence allows historians to continually reassess and refine our understanding of the region’s long and complex cultural evolution. To ensure the preservation and continuity of Tamil Nadu’s rich heritage, the TNSDA has undertaken several ambitious, technology-driven, long-term projects. These initiatives extend well beyond traditional documentation and adopt advanced scientific methods, he said.

The 20-year Vision Project on the cultural history of Tamil Nadu aims to document archaeological monuments at the village level across all districts, with active fieldwork currently under way in Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, the Nilgiris, Erode, and Tiruppur. The theme-based epigraphy project uses modern digital technologies to record inscriptions based on specific themes such as trade guilds and hero stones, he said.

Beyond field research, the TNSDA is modernising museums, conducting new excavations, expanding collaborations with national and international research institutions, and strengthening human resources to adapt to emerging scientific technologies. Forthcoming publications will include comprehensive studies on Tamil Nadu’s rock art, ancient symbols, and pottery inscribed with Tamil-Brahmi characters, he added.

Mr. Thennarasu also launched a website on graffiti signs of Tamil Nadu and books such as two volumes of Inscribed Potsherds of Tamil Nadu: Graffiti and Tamili,Traditional Water Management: Sluice Technology in Tamil Nadu, six volumes of Tamil Nadu Kalvettugal from Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, and Salem districts, and the conference proceedings.

K. Manivasan, Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism and Culture); T. Udhayachandran, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) and Commissioner of Archaeology; R. Balakrishnan, Chairman, International Institute of Tamil Studies; and Professor K. Rajan, Academic and Research Advisor, TNSDA, were among those present.