MANGALURU: A team of experts from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Mysuru visited the Technology wing campus of the College of Fisheries at Hoige Bazar and conducted an estampage on the two inscriptions on Monday.
Shreedevi Thejaswini and J Veeramanikandan, assistant epigraphists from the office of the Director (Epigraphy) along with Nasurulla, multi tasking staff visited the campus and observed the Kannada and Portuguese inscriptions. The Kannada one probably belongs to the 11th century and Portuguese inscription may be a 16th century one.
Referring to the Kannada inscription, Shreedevi Thejaswini said that the inscription has more than 11 lines and for accuracy a detailed study is essential. A portion of the inscription is worn out, based on the alphabets, the inscription may belong to the circa 11th century.
The inscription could be a donation given to someone. But it is difficult to find out to whom, by whom and for what, because the top four lines are eroded. The purpose of the inscription is not clear, said Veeramanikandan.
The team concluded that the other inscription is Portuguese one after observing an emblem and letters. Only after decipherment work is completed, the exact details can be provided.
Once an estampage, a process to obtain the exact replica of an inscription using maplitho paper and ink is completed, the copy is preserved in the office and will be published in the annual report of Indian Epigraphy. It is also published in the South Indian Inscription, an epigraphical series, edited by experts from the field. Further, the inscriptions may find a place in Epigraphia Indica, which critically analyzes most important inscriptions and Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum if it is a dynastical inscription. The team is expected to visit Adyar and Udyavara to examine stone inscriptions found there recently. Several inscriptions belonging to the Alupa dynasty are found in the coastal region that gives scope for research, the experts said.
Dr A. Senthil Vel, professor and dean (Fisheries), College of Fisheries, said, “Shreyas, a third year student showed some pictures of the inscriptions from this campus on his mobile phone on March 13. I immediately sent a message to the Prime Minister’s Office who in-turn sent the details to Director General ASI, V. Vidyavathi. She was quick to direct the team from Mysuru led by Dr K Muniratnam, director to look into it in just 15 minutes.
The inscriptions were found while the ground was being excavated for constructing the skill development centre under Mangaluru Smart City, last year. It was brought to the notice of the dean only on Saturday. Some stones with inscriptions may have already been cleared from the premise.