Ancient Tombstone Unearthed In Coconut Farm
The recent discovery of an ancient Hebrew tombstone in southern India, dating back to the 13th century, has sparked intrigue over the possibility of an unrecognized Jewish community in the region.
Unearthed on a coconut farm in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, the tombstone bears inscriptions that have been meticulously decoded by Thoufeek Zakriya, a Dubai-based historian and Hebrew calligrapher. According to Zakriya, the inscriptions suggest a date around 1224 or 1225 C.E., predating even the renowned Sarah Bat Israel Tombstone found in Kerala’s Chennamangalam Synagogue, which is revered as India’s oldest known Hebrew tombstone, dating to 1270 A.D.
The tombstone’s discovery came to public attention through Hathim Ali, a 32-year-old chemical engineer from Ramanathapuram. Initially informed by a friend about the finding on the farm owned by “Mr. Balu,” Ali recognized the inscriptions as neither Tamil nor Arabic and suspected them to be Hebrew. Despite alerting local authorities, no action was initially taken. It was only after Ali’s story was published in Dinamalar that Zakriya, via Rajaguru of the Ramanathapuram Archaeological Research Foundation, became aware and initiated the decoding process.
Zakriya revealed that the inscription on the tombstone references the 1st of Shvat in the Seleucid era, corresponding roughly to January 1, 1224 or January 18, 1225 A.D. He acknowledged challenges in deciphering the damaged text fully but noted potential influences from Yemeni Jewish traditions in its design and script.
Expressing the need for further archaeological exploration in the area, Zakriya lamented the tombstone’s damaged state, which obscured details such as the deceased’s name. He emphasized the importance of scholarly investigation to uncover more about the Jewish presence in Ramanathapuram, particularly since this is the second Hebrew-inscribed tombstone found in the region.
The discovery has rekindled interest in India’s lesser-known Jewish history, prompting calls for comprehensive studies to shed light on the community’s origins, practices, and historical context within the diverse tapestry of India’s cultural and religious heritage.