[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v1.c8.s2.8 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c8.s2.8 An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c8.s2.8 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c8.s2.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c8.s2.8) Seals are a valuable source of information of the history and culture of a period. Seals of kings provide information regarding their titles, genealogy and chronology. There are also seals of the tribes of the Mālavas and the Yaudheyas. Seals of officials like \*kumārāmātya\*, \*daṇḍā-nāyaka\*, etc., and those of administrative units like \*bhukti\*, \*viṣaya\*, \*grāma\*, etc., give an idea of administrative system. Temples (e.g. Amrātakeśvara, Avimukteśvara, etc.) and monasteries (e.g. Mahāparinirvāṇa-vihāra, Nālandā-vihāra, etc.) sometimes had their own seals, which together with many others bearing legends and devices connected with various deities throw significant light on religion and iconography. The majority of seals bear the creed \*ye dharmā hetu-prabhavā\* etc. \[12.8\] and were intended to be buried inside votive \*stūpas\* in large numbers. Seals of institutions of learning like \*caraṇas\* and \*agrahāras\* and economic organizations like \*nigamas\* and \*śreṇis\* have also been found. Nearly 300 sealings of a guild of bankers, traders and artisans were found in one single chamber of VAIŚĀLĪ. Clay lumps from RAJGHAT⁴ bearing Indo-Greek coin devices indicate external trade contacts. - [Previous: v1.c8.s2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c8.s2.7) - [Next: v1.c8.s2.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c8.s2.9) - [Up: v1.c8.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c8.s2) ## Linked texts (1) - [Vaiśālī](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.vaisali) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c8.s2.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c8.s2.8) · Pramāṇa