Archaeological Survey of India

The Archaeological Survey of India (Devanagiri: भारतीय पुरातत्‍व सर्वेक्षण abbreviation: ASI) is a department of the Government of India, attached to the Ministry of Culture ^[1]. The ASI is responsible for archaeological studies and the preservation of archaeological heritage of the country in accordance with the various acts of the Indian Parliament^[2]. According to its website, the ASI's function is to "explore, excavate, conserve, preserve and protect the monuments and sites of National & International Importance." ASI has the mandate to regulate the export trade in antiquities and art treasures, to provide for the prevention of smuggling of, and fraudulent dealings in, antiquities, to provide for the compulsory acquisition of antiquities and art treasures for preservation in public places and to provide for certain other matters connected therewith or incidental or ancillary thereto^[3]. The survey performs numerous other activities, including: imparting training to the young professionals in the field of Archaeology^[4]. The Archaeological Survey of India runs a premier institute in New Delhi for this purpose ^[5].

Background

The creation of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is the logical culmination of early archaeological initiatives in British India that included the establishment of The Asiatic Society by Sir William Jones on 15 January 1784.^[6]

History

The Archaeological Survey of India was founded in 1861 under British colonial administration by Sir Alexander Cunningham with the help of the then Viceroy Charles John Canning. At that time, its domain included the entire British India including Afghanistan and Burma^[7]. In its early days, the Survey was engaged in major exploratory activities which resulted in the discovery of important archaeological sites like Sankisa, Sravasti, Bharhut, Kosambi^[8]. Cunningham was instrumental in such findings and paved the way for newer studies in Historical Archaeology of India ^[9]. During the tenure of Cunningham (1867–68), A.C.L. Carlleyle of ASI discovered important rock paintings in the rock shelters of Suhagighat in the Rewa District, Madhya Pradesh^[10]. He recognized that some paintings were prehistoric and had no analog in Europe ^[10]. When Mortimer Wheeler became Director-General in 1944, the head-office of the Survey was located at the Railway Board building in Simla.

Overview

The ASI administers 3650 monuments and archaeological sites and remains ^[11] of national importance under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958 (No 24 of 1958) and Rule in 1959.^[3] The important sites excavated very recently^[when?] include Harsha-ka-Tila at Thanesar in Haryana exposing a cultural sequence from the Kushan period to medieval periods, a Harappan town at Bhirranaand in Haryana has revealed a 4.5m cultural sequence consisting of Hakra Ware, Early and Mature Harappan cultures Sanauli in Uttar Pradesh is under excavation by the ASI since September 2005. Subsequently, ASI identified the site as a prominent cemetery site of Late Harappan period (early 2nd millennium B.C.), one among the five largest Harappan cities in the subcontinent, Dholavira in Gujarat has yielded many firsts in respect of Indus Valley Civilization, an Iron Age Urn Burial Site in Adichanallur, Tamil Nadu.

Functions

The functions and responsibilities of Archaeological Survey of India ^[12] are:

1. Conducting archaeological explorations and excavations.
2. Maintenance, conservation and preservation of protected monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance.
3. Chemical preservation of monuments and antiquarian remains.
4. Architectural survey of monuments.
5. Epigraphical and numismatic studies.
6. Setting up and re-organization of Site Museums.
7. Training in Archaeology.
8. Bringing out archaeological publications.
9. Archaeological expeditions outside India.
10. Horticulture operation in and around ancient monuments and sites.
11. Implementation and regulation of - The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972.

Directors-General

Publications

Archeological Survey of India started publishing all the results of their tours from 1862-63 onwards. A new series entitled "New Imperial Series" was launched in 1874 and continued up to 1933. They contain exhaustive research on antiquarian remains. Annual Reports were started publishing from 1902 onwards. "Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of India", first appeared in 1919 and the latest (98th) in 2003.^[13]

One of the publications dated 1922 is the Guide to the Buddhist Ruins of Sarnath written by the later director of the Survey Rai Bahadur Daya Ram Sahni which was reprinted by Antiquarian Book House, Delhi/Varanasi in 1982/83.

• "Ancient India": the Bulletin of the Archaeological Survey of India was started in 1946.
• "Architectural Survey of Temples": The monograph on Indian Temple architecture is also published. ASI has also initiated to prepare and publish an "Inventory of Monuments and Sites of National Importance" during 1997. It contains details of monuments protected by the Government of India.

Their most important epigraphical publication is "Epigraphia Indica". It was first published in 1892 and 42 volumes have been published so far. The "Annual Report on Indian Epigraphy" has been brought out from 1887 till 1995-96. They contain reports on the epigraphical discoveries made each year. Inscriptions of various dynasties were also published under the series "Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum". "South Indian Inscriptions" and "Annual Report of South Indian Epigraphy" contains details on inscriptions of South India.

See also

• Dholavira Ancient Metropolitan City. Application is pending for World Heritage Site.
• Survey of India is India's central agency in charge of mapping and surveying.
• Geological Survey of India conducts geological surveys and studies.
• Mahabalipuram (Underwater city)

References

1. ^ Ministry of Culture (India)
2. ^ Archaeological Survey of India, legislations
3. ^ ^{a b} [1]
4. ^ [2]
5. ^ [3]
6. ^ Roy, Sourindranath. & Archaeological Survey of India. 1961. The story of Indian archaeology, 1784-1947. Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi
7. ^ Roy, Sourindranath. & Archaeological Survey of India. 1961 The story of Indian archaeology, 1784-1947. Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi :
8. ^ http://asi.nic.in/asi_aboutus_history.asp
9. ^ Singh,Upinder.2004. Discovery of Ancient India: Early Archaeologists and the Beginnings of Archaeology. Permanent Black, Delhi
10. ^ ^{a b} Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal for February,1883,p.49
11. ^ http://asi.nic.in/asi_monuments.asp
12. ^ http://www.asi.nic.in/asi_aboutus_activities.asp
13. ^ "Publications". Archeological Survey of India. http://asi.nic.in/asi_publications.asp. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Archaeological Survey of India

• Official website
• World Heritage Site, All Tentative Sites, Here is an overview of all tentative lists, last updated January 2007.
• World Heritage, Tentative Lists, State : India.
• Dholavira: a Harappan City, Disstt, Kachchh, Gujarat, India, India (Asia and the Pacific), Date of Submission: 03/07/1998 , Submission prepared by : Archaeological Survey of India, Coordinates: 23°53'10" N, 70°11'03" E, Ref.: 1090