The inscription was unearthed when villagers cleared the bushes around the temple
Researchers examined the stone and confirmed its association with Jewish trading groups.
“The discovery at Anandur temple coincides with the period of the Crusades in Europe when Jews, after being expelled from their land, migrated to coastal cities in Asia and Africa, working as artisans, dyers, farmers and merchants,” he said. “Anandur inscription shows their integration into south Indian trade networks,” he added. KRISHNAGIRI: Four Jewish merchant guilds had come together to finance construction of a hall at the Thanthondreeswarar temple (Lord Shiva temple) at Anandur near Pochampally in Krishnagiri district, say historians citing a 13th century Tamil stone inscription discovered from the premises recently. The inscription was unearthed when villagers cleared the bushes around the temple and informed the Krishnagiri Historical Research and Documentation Society, the District Government Museum and the state archaeology department. A similar Jewish trade inscription was discovered in Valantharavai in Ramanathapuram district a few years ago.