 In March 2014, a hero stone dating to the 8th century Pandya country, with an inscription in Tamil "vatteluttu" script was found in Vellalankottai in the Tuticorin district.and another that was installed by a woman in memory of her husband who killed a leopard preying in cattle that strayed into the hamlet.In 2017, two rare hero stones raised in honor of warrior-women riding to a battle were found, dating back 13th century.