Glimpses of an Ancient Civilization Society and Culture in Jaffna ( 300 Bc – Ad 500 )

This pioneering study reconstructs ancient Jaffna's early history from 300 BC to AD 500 using newly identified archaeological evidence, particularly Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions found on stone and metal artifacts across roughly 50 sites. The work traces how the Nāgas introduced Iron Age culture from South India, establishing the prosperous maritime principality of Nākatāvu, which traded actively with South Asia and the Roman Empire and developed early urbanization and monetization. Through examination of domestic objects, coins, and religious sites, Pathmanathan reveals a multilayered society where Tamil was the dominant language and Nāga worship, Saivism, and Buddhism coexisted during this formative period of Jaffna's cultural development.