Which early script was used for the oldest known Tamil inscriptions?

The early script used for the oldest known Tamil inscriptions was Tamil-Brahmi, also called Tamili or Damili. It was a southern adaptation of the broader Brahmi writing system, modified to represent sounds and grammatical features of Old Tamil.

Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions are generally dated from about the third century BCE to the first century CE, although the chronology and origins remain subjects of scholarly discussion. They appear on cave walls, stone beds, pottery, coins, seals, rings, and burial objects across southern India and Sri Lanka.

The script differs from northern Brahmi in several important ways. It includes signs or diacritics suited to Tamil consonants and often suppresses Brahmi’s inherent vowel, allowing words to end in consonants as Tamil words commonly do. Many early records are short donations associated with Jain and Buddhist sites, but secular inscriptions also mention merchants, rulers, and personal names.

Tamil-Brahmi should not be confused with Grantha, which was later used especially for writing Sanskrit in the Tamil region. Sharada and Kharosthi belonged to different regional and historical traditions.