RoyalEddington6 at 22:05, 13 March 2026

2026-03-13T22:05:09Z

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{{short description|Ancient markings in the Indian subcontinent}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}

'''Megalithic markings''', '''Megalithic graffiti marks''', '''Megalithic symbols''' or '''Non-Brahmi symbols''' are terms used to describe markings found on mostly [[potsherds]] found in [[Deccan|Central India]], [[South India]] and [[Sri Lanka]] during the [[Megalithic]] [[Iron Age in South Asia|Iron Age]] period. They are usually found in burial sites but some have been found in habitation sites. They are tentatively dated from 1000 BCE to 300 CE marking the transition of the proto-historic period into the historic period of the [[Indian subcontinent]]. A number of scholars have tried to decipher the symbols since 1878, and currently there is no consensus as to whether they constitute un-deciphered writing or graffiti or symbols without any syllabic or alphabetic meaning.

In 1960, archaeologist [[B. B. Lal]] found that 89% of the surveyed megalithic symbols had their counterparts amongst the [[Indus script]]. He concluded that there was a commonness of culture between the [[Indus Valley Civilisation]] and the later megalithic period.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lal |first1=B. B. |year=1962 |title= From the Megalithic to Harappa: Tracing back the graffiti on the pottery |journal=Ancient India: Bulletin of the Archaeology Survey of India |volume=16 |issue= |pages=21–24}}</ref> In 2019, archaeologists in [[Tamil Nadu]] excavated further potsherds at [[Keezhadi excavation site|Keeladi]] with graffiti closely resembling symbols of the Indus script.<ref>Department of Archaeology, Government of Tamil Nadu - Keezhadi, An urban settlement of sangam age on the banks of the river Vaigai (2019) p60-62 https://archive.org/details/keeladibookenglish18092019/page/n59/mode/2up</ref>

From archaeological [[stratigraphy]], potsherds with and without symbols are usually found at the lowest level, followed by potsherds with mixed symbols and [[Brahmi]] or [[Tamil Brahmi]] and eventually at the highest level potsherds are only found with Brahmi or Tamil Brahmi etchings. From around 300 CE, they disappear from grave sites.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Rajan |first=K. |year=2008 |title=Situating the Beginning of Early Historic Times in Tamil Nadu: Some Issues and Reflections |journal=[[Social Scientist]] |volume=36 |issue=1/2 |pages=40–78}}</ref> Scholars such as [[Iravatham Mahadevan]] have tried to link the symbols directly to [[Indus Valley script]] or as derived due to lingering influence,<ref>{{Citation |last1=Mahadevan |first1=Iravatham |title=Megalithic pottery inscription and a Harappa tablet:A case of extraordinary resemblance |publisher=Harappa.com |url=https://www.harappa.com/content/arrow/megalithic-inscription.html |year=2004 |isbn=}}</ref> whereas others such as K. Rajan see the symbols as the genesis of the later Brahmi script.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rajan |first1=K. |last2=Bopearachchi |first2=Osmund |year=2002 |title=Graffiti Marks of Kodumanal (India) and Ridiyagama (Sri Lanka)- A Comparative Study |journal=Man and Environment |volume=27 |issue=2 |pages=97–105}}</ref> Yet many others see no particular alphabetic value in them only as graffiti symbols used for socio-religious purposes.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Boivin |first1=Nicole |last2=Korisettar |first2=Ravi |last3=Venkatasubbaiah |first3=P. C. |year=2003 |title=Megalithic Markings in Context: graffiti marks on burial pots from Kudatini, Karnataka |journal=[[South Asian Studies]] |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=21–33 |doi=10.1080/02666030.2003.9628618}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Pottery in the Indian subcontinent]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Prehistoric technology}}

[[Category:Megalithic symbols|*]]
[[Category:Ancient Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:History of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Cultural history of Karnataka]]
[[Category:History of Kerala]]
[[Category:History of Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:History of Telangana]]
[[Category:Graffiti in India]]

Megalithic graffiti symbols - Revision history

RoyalEddington6 at 22:05, 13 March 2026