Editing Tamil Nadu (section)

=== Prehistory (before 5th century BCE) ===
[[Archaeological evidence]] indicates that the Tamil Nadu region could have been inhabited more than 385,000 years ago by [[archaic humans]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/sharp-stones-found-india-signal-surprisingly-early-toolmaking-advances|title=Science News : Archaeology – Anthropology : Sharp stones found in India signal surprisingly early toolmaking advances|access-date=9 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209183736/https://www.sciencenews.org/article/sharp-stones-found-india-signal-surprisingly-early-toolmaking-advances|archive-date=9 February 2018|url-status=live|date=31 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/02/01/very-old-very-sophisticated-tools-found-in-india-the-question-is-who-made-them/|title= Very old, very sophisticated tools found in India. The question is: Who made them?|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=9 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210201237/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/02/01/very-old-very-sophisticated-tools-found-in-india-the-question-is-who-made-them/|archive-date=10 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Artifacts recovered in [[Adichanallur]] by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI) indicate a continuous history from more than 3,800 years ago.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/skeletons-dating-back-3800-years-throw-light-on-evolution/articleshow/1354201.cms|title=Skeletons dating back 3,800 years throw light on evolution|access-date=11 June 2008|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=1 January 2006|archive-date=24 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124105726/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1354201,prtpage-1.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Neolithic]] [[Celt (tool)|celts]] with the [[Indus script]] dated between 1500 and 2000 BCE indicate the use of the [[Harappan language]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=T|first1=Saravanan|date=22 February 2018|title=How a recent archaeological discovery throws light on the history of Tamil script|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/10th-century-ce-oil-press-discovered-near-andipatti-with-a-tamil-script/article22814589.ece|access-date=26 February 2018|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109005047/https://www.thehindu.com/society/10th-century-ce-oil-press-discovered-near-andipatti-with-a-tamil-script/article22814589.ece|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=the eternal harappan script|url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/india/the-eternal-harappan-script-tease|date=27 November 2014|work=Open magazine|access-date=24 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324134658/http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/india/the-eternal-harappan-script-tease|archive-date=24 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Excavations at [[Keezhadi excavation site|Keezhadi]] have revealed a large urban settlement, with the earliest artefact dated to 580 BCE, during the time of urbanization in the [[Indo-Gangetic plain]].<ref>{{cite news|date=21 August 2020|title=Keezhadi sixth phase: What do the findings so far tell us?|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/keezhadi-sixth-phase-what-do-findings-so-far-tell-us-131269|access-date=31 January 2021|newspaper=The News Minute|language=en|archive-date=24 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124023909/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/keezhadi-sixth-phase-what-do-findings-so-far-tell-us-131269|url-status=live|first=Anjana|last=Shekar }}</ref> Further epigraphical inscriptions found at Adichanallur use [[Tamil Brahmi]], a rudimentary script dated to 5th century BCE.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/article30205148.ece|title=A rare inscription|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=1 July 2009|access-date=1 June 2023|archive-date=22 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922154651/https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/article30205148.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Potsherds uncovered from Keeladi indicate a script which might be a transition between the Indus Valley script and Tamil Brahmi script used later.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/artefacts-with-tamil-brahmi-script-unearthed-at-keeladi-to-find-a-special-place-in-museum/article66529594.ece|title=Artifacts unearthed at Keeladi to find a special place in museum|date=19 February 2023|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=14 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114173611/https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/artefacts-with-tamil-brahmi-script-unearthed-at-keeladi-to-find-a-special-place-in-museum/article66529594.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>