An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c25.s3.1

v1.c25.s3.1

Archaeology recovers only the durable writing materials. Aśoka records that he got his edicts engraved on stones so that they might endure long and used pillars and rocks for this purpose. In later periods engraving was done on stone slabs, temples, caves, images, vases and caskets. Terracotta seals and sealings [3.2] have on them names of individuals or institutions, and sometimes ennobling tracts, often from scriptural texts. Besides those containing names or one or more letters, there are bricks with Buddhist *sūtras* and in a solitary case a mortgage deed engraved on them. Inscribed conch-shells and tortoise shells and seals made of ivory plaques have also been discovered.