A Unique Śaṅkhalipi (Shell-script) Inscription from Si Thep, Thailand

A remarkable śaṅkhalipi (shell-script) inscription, the first of its kind discovered in mainland Southeast Asia, has been unearthed at Si Thep, Thailand. This ornate pillar inscription, typically found in India and rarely in Indonesia, represents a significant cultural and historical link to the Gupta period and succeeding centuries. The discovery sheds new light on the distribution and significance of shell-script inscriptions, which remain undeciphered but are associated with ancient monumental sites. The study reviews the historical context of these inscriptions, emphasizing their rarity outside India and the unique contribution of this specimen to our understanding of ancient Southeast Asian scripts.

Salomon, R., & Revire, N. (2023). A Unique Śaṅkhalipi (Shell-script) Inscription from Si Thep, Thailand. Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, 76(3), 355–371. https://doi.org/10.1556/062.2023.00338