Glimpses of an Ancient Civilization Society and Culture in Jaffna

Glimpses of an Ancient Civilization: Society and Culture in Jaffna 300 BC – AD 500 by S. Pathmanathan (2025) offers a pioneering exploration of Jaffna’s early history through the lens of newly identified archaeological data. The work primarily utilizes a category of source materials previously overlooked, such as brief Tamil inscriptions written in the Tamil-Brahmi script. These inscriptions, found on stone and metal artifacts, provide critical evidence regarding the modes of production, economy, and social structures that defined ancient Jaffna.

The volume highlights the central role of the Nagas, whom the author identifies as the people responsible for introducing the Early Iron Age Culture (EIAC) from South India around 900 BC. This transition marked the end of the Stone Age and laid the foundation for Sri Lankan civilization through advancements in iron technology, tank irrigation, and organized agriculture.

The introduction emphasizes that by the 3rd century BC, the Nagas had established a prosperous principality known as Nagadipa, which actively participated in seaborne trade with South Asia and the Roman Empire. This maritime connectivity led to early forms of urbanization in areas like Kantarodai and the Jaffna Fort, as well as the emergence of monetization using coins bearing legends such as velanakan polam.

Crucially, the text asserts that Tamil was the prevailing language of the region, supported by Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions discovered at approximately 50 sites. Pathmanathan also explores the coexistence of Naga worship, Saivism, and Buddhism within this early society. By examining domestic artifacts, coins, and religious monuments, the book illustrates how the cultural heritage and ecological patterns of Jaffna were shaped during this formative period of Naga settlement.