Tamil copper-plate inscriptions are like treasure maps with important information written on them. They are made of copper, which is a kind of metal that can be shaped into flat sheets.
Long ago, people in the southern part of India used copper-plate inscriptions to write down important things like laws, rules, and agreements. They would inscribe the information onto the copper plates using special tools.
These copper plates were important because they were used to show that someone had the right to do something, like own land or collect taxes. The information on the copper plates was legally binding, which meant that people had to follow it.
The Tamil language was used to write on these copper plates. This language was different from other languages spoken in India because it had its own unique alphabet.
Today, these Tamil copper-plate inscriptions are important historical artifacts that help us understand what life was like in southern India a long time ago. They are like time capsules that hold clues about the past. Researchers and historians can study them to learn about the lives of ancient people in southern India.