Tamil is a Dravidian language with a long and rich history. It is believed to have originated in the southern part of India, and its earliest inscriptions date back to the 3rd century BCE.
Telugu, also a Dravidian language, emerged later, around the 6th century CE. It is believed to have evolved from a proto-Dravidian language spoken in the central and eastern parts of India.
Evidence of Tamil's older origin:
* Earliest inscriptions: Tamil inscriptions are found in the 3rd century BCE, while the earliest Telugu inscriptions date back to the 6th century CE.
* Literary tradition: Tamil has a vast and ancient literary tradition, with works like the Sangam literature dating back to the early centuries CE. Telugu literature emerged later, in the 11th century CE.
* Linguistic features: Tamil retains several archaic features that are absent in Telugu, indicating its older lineage.
Therefore, based on linguistic evidence and historical records, Tamil is considered to be the older language between the two.