Hero stone

They often carry inscriptions and a variety of ornaments, including bas relief panels, frieze, and figures in carved stone.

The earliest and oldest of such memorial hero stones is found in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu is more than 2400 years old that is 4th century BCE.

[9] In Tamil Nadu, Department of Archeology found several hundred hero stones that had been erected in the memory of warriors who sacrificed their lives defending their community or region.

[13] In March 2014, a hero stone dating to the 8th century Pandya country, with a Tamil inscription in the Vatteluttu script was found in Vellalankottai in the Thoothukudi district.

[14] In 2017, two rare hero stones raised in honour of warrior-women riding to a battle were found, dating back 13th century.