The Discovery of Ancient India Early Archaeologists and the Beginnings of Archaeology

The Book Breaks Colonial Archaeology Down Into Its Specific Constituents And Examines The Ideas, Impulses And Tensions, And Individual Contributions That Compromised Early Studies Of India`S Ancient Past. It Focuses, At The Outset, On The Ides And Work Of Alexander Cunningham, The First Director General Of The Archaeological Survey Of India. It Looks At A Number Of Related Issues - The Different Definitions Of Archaeological Research; The Conflict Between Field Archaeologists And Architectural Scholars; The Debate Over Whether Antiquities Should Be Left In Site Or Removed To Museums; The Different Approaches And Initiatives Towards The Conservation Of Hisatorical Monuments. It Examines The Contribution Made By Indian Scholars To The Antiquarian And Archaeological Projects, And At The Interaction Between The Colonial Government And The Indian Princes Vis-A-Vis The Conservation Of Historical Monuments.His Book Is Written As Much For The General Reader Interested In India`S Antiquity And Its Pioneering Archaeologists, As For Students Of The History Of Archaeology, Colonialism, And Constructions Of The Past.