AMARAVATI — The Archaeological Survey of India has discovered a significant collection of ancient inscriptions deeply embedded within the dense core of the Nallamala forest.
The Epigraphy Branch from Bengaluru recently conducted a field survey inside the forest area, locating rare epigraphical records carved onto weathered stone walls and temple pillars. These findings date back several centuries, tracing the socio-political movements and administrative decisions of early regional dynasties.
The research team documented several stone inscriptions written in archaic scripts that record land grants, religious offerings, and royal decrees. Many of these records belong to periods of major South Indian empires, which patronized remote forest hermitages and fortified outposts.
The discovery sheds new light on how these isolated trade routes and religious centers operated under royal protection.
Historians state that the dense forest terrain has naturally protected these monuments from heavy human encroachment, keeping the structural texts intact.
The epigraphists are currently deciphering the exact regnal years and names of local chieftains mentioned in the text to build a more accurate timeline. Initial assessments show clear linkages to socioeconomic contributions made by merchants traveling through these hill passes.