113992242-Dravidian-Settlements-in-Ceylon-and-the-Beginnings-of-the-Kingdom-of-Jaffna-By-Karthigesu-Indrapala-Complete-Phd-Thesis-University-of-London-1965

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for, it is unlikely that Nahinda II distributed horses to the
Taxnils living in all parts of the kingdom. That these Tamils
refused cattle and acdepted horses may mean that they were not
a settled peasantry but mercenaries who had more use for horses
than for cattle. But this, however, is a flimsy evidence and
the Tamils who received horses were probably a few mercenary
leaders.
It is in the thIih and tenth centuries that we again
get any definite epigraphic and archaeological evidence, though
meagre, pointing to Dravidia.n settlemOnts. For the first time
in these centuries, Tamil inscriptions come to light and Sinhalese
inscriptions refer to Tamil lands and villages. The earliest of
the ruins of iva temples are also datable to the same period.
Several Saiva ruins, aptly termed the Tamil Ruins,
have been discovered in a section of the norbhern quarter of
Anurdhapura These ruins consist of temples and residences for
priests, with some lesser buildings scattered here and there.
Some of these are ivali.ga temples while some others are dedicated
to the mother goddess. Several stone lifigas, too, have
been unearthed in this area. Al]. the shrines are of ome design,
which is simple and reminiscent of the style of early Dravidian
temples. These have a vestibule (antaria), a middle—room (ardhama4)
and a sanctum (garbha-gha), and were all built of brick
1. £S.C.A.R. for 1892, p. 5 ; A.S.C.A.R. for 1893, p. 5.