The Unicode block "Sinhala Archaic Numbers" is a designated range within the Unicode Standard that represents a collection of numeric symbols historically utilized in the Sinhala language. This block occupies code points from U+111E0 to U+111FF. These numerals were traditionally used in the region that is present-day Sri Lanka, reflecting the rich cultural and historical tapestry of the Sinhala-speaking people. The inclusion of such archaic numerals in Unicode is part of a broader effort to preserve and facilitate academic and cultural work involving ancient scripts and numerals, ensuring that they remain accessible for study and digital communication.
The Sinhala Archaic Numbers are not commonly used in contemporary settings but are of significant interest to linguists, historians, and researchers studying South Asian scripts and ancient numbering systems. The block makes it possible to digitally encode texts that contain these historical numerals, providing a valuable resource for the digitization of ancient manuscripts and scholarly works. By incorporating these symbols into Unicode, modern technology can better serve as a bridge connecting the present with these ancient cultural elements, ensuring their preservation for future generations.
View a range of fonts that support the Sinhala Archaic Numbers block.
Below you will find all the characters that are in the Sinhala Archaic Numbers unicode block. Currently there are 20 characters in this block.