[Solved] Pre-Ashokan Brahmi Script Found at Anuradhapura

Pre-Ashokan Brahmi script was found at:

[U.P.P.C.S. Special Prelims 2008]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

While Brahmi is most famously associated with Emperor Ashoka, archaeological findings have pushed back the dates of its usage in the subcontinent and Sri Lanka.

Authentic Source Evidence

Excavations at Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka) revealed pottery shards (post-sherds) with Brahmi characters dating back to the 4th or 5th century BCE, predating the Mauryan emperor Ashoka.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: Option B is correct. The discovery at Anuradhapura provided critical evidence that the Brahmi script was already in use for trade and administration before Ashoka standardized it for his edicts.

Logic 2: Sites like Nagarjunakonda (A), Brahmagiri (C), and Maski (D) are famous for Ashokan edicts or later inscriptions, not for Pre-Ashokan evidence.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"Why is the Anuradhapura discovery important for history?"

It proves that literacy and a standardized writing system existed in the region well before the Mauryan imperial expansion.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"The presence of early Brahmi in Sri Lanka suggests a sophisticated maritime trade network between the island and the Indian mainland in the pre-Mauryan era."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Brahmi Script 17

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