Complex sentence: The inscriptions have been a source of information about South Indian history, culture, economy and social role since the late 9th century with earliest dated to the rule of Adithya Chola I, to the last historical ones to the 16th century.
Split into simpler sentences: The inscriptions have been a source of information about South Indian history, culture, economy and social role. These range from the late 9th century to the rule of Aditya Chola I, to the last historical ones to the 16th century.