Indian Epigraphy: A Guide to the Study of Inscriptions in Sanskrit, Prakrit, and the Other Indo-Aryan Languages c11.s2.22

c11.s2.22

Besides the continued issues of these serial publications, the last decade of the nineteenth century also saw for the first time the publication of authoritative epigraphic research guides and research. Publication of the standard epigraphic journals and serials such as EI, CII, IA, SII, and EC continued at a steady pace through the first half of the century, promoted in part by continuing discoveries of new inscriptions. But in this period many of the new materials were found not so much by chance or in the course of superficial surveys as in earlier days but as a product of planned and systematic archaeological excavations. Inscriptions could thus be studied not only in and of themselves but also in a chronological and archaeological context. In this sense, the turn of the century may be said to mark the beginning of the era of archaeological epigraphy in India. This development reflects the influence of Sir John Marshall, who served as director general of the Archaeological Survey of India from 1902 to 1934 and transformed the survey from an agency essentially involved in antiquarian collection to one sponsoring orderly excavations carried out according to the scientific standards prevailing at the time.