Monuments: Commemorative Archaeological Sources of History

Monuments are a type of structure that was created to commemorate a person or event or which was become relevant to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times. So, we can define monuments in simple terms as, 'Commemorative Archaeological Sources of History'. 

Monuments includes all artistic works concerned with architecture, sculpture, painting, etc. Through there study we know about the history of development of Arts. Besides this, it throws light on religious, socio-economic conditions of concerned times. For example, rock temples of Ajanta and Ellora with its sculptures and paintings Express the artistic finery of that period. Taj Mahal along with being a renowned symbol of love, it is also a symbol of Shah Jahan's wealth and power, and the fact that the empire had prospered under his rule. 

Monuments can be classified into indigenous and foreign groups for a country. For example, in case of India, Dashavtar temple [Deogarh (U.P.) of Gupta period], Brihadishwar/Rajarajeshwar temple [Tanjore, built by Chola ruler Rajaraja I in 1000AD], etc. are indigenous monuments while Buddhist temple of Borobodur [Java Island, Indonesia built by ruler of Shailendra dynasty is a largest Buddhist temple in the World], Vaishnava temple of Angkor-Vat [Combodia, built by Suryavarma, the ruler of Kaundinya dynasty of Kambuj in 12th century A.D.], etc. are foreign monuments for India. 

There are thousands of monuments are present today which tell us about the glory of past civilizations and their socio-religious-cultural lifestyle. Red Fort is the largest monument of Delhi (Capital of India) built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to serve as the palace fort for his capital Shahjahanabad (Old Name of Delhi). Red Fort is one of the top tourist places in Delhi and included in UNESCO World Heritage site. Every year, the Prime Minister of India  hoists the National Flag at Red Fort on 15 August (Independence Day). You can watch video of Red Fort Complex below.

Next Article:

1. Excavation works, Ruined cities and other archaeology artefacts

2. Exploration and Excavation

3. Literary Sources 

4. Archaeological Dating Methods 

References

1. Wonder That Was India 

2. India's Ancient Past 

3. History of Ancient India

4. IGNOU Study Material 

Also see:

1. Coins 

2. Historical Sources

3. Archaeological Sources 

4. Literary Sources 

5. Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources

6. Bharatvarsha 

7. UGC NET JRF Latest Syllabus 

8. Inscriptions 

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Inscriptions (or Epigraphy)

In general terms, inscriptions are writings or texts carved on solid objects as stone, pillars, walls, seals, temples, rocks, caves, forts, copper tablet, wooden tablet, bricks, etc. They are the most authentic, accurate and reliable archaeological evidences to know our past. The study of inscriptions is called Epigraphy.

Inscriptions represents various languages at different places and period of time. They were written in all languages like Prakrit, Pali, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telgu, etc. Most of them written in Brahmi script till 7th century A.D. afterthat, strong regional variations in script was seen. 

On the basis of contents of inscriptions, they can be grouped as follows:

1. Administrative Inscriptions

2. Religious and Didactic Inscriptions

3. Eulogistic Inscriptions

4. Commercial Inscriptions

5. Magical Inscriptions

6. Donative Inscriptions

7. Commemorative Inscriptions

1. Administrative Inscriptions 

These inscriptions give valuable information regarding the extent of the kingdom, administration, etc. Ashoka's edicts are a specimen of this group. The Junagadh rock inscription of Rudradaman I, Banskhera Copper plate inscription of Harsha, Sohgaura copper plate Inscription, are some other examples.

2. Religious and Didactic Inscriptions 

These inscriptions give information about religious and moral matters of the time. Best speciem of this group of inscription is Ashoka's Edicts. Bhabru edict expresses Ashoka's faith in the Triratna of Buddhism. Rock edict X, XI and XII preached religious toleration, true charity and practicing Dhamma. 

3. Eulogistic Inscriptions 

These inscriptions give information about name and genealogy of the ruler, his military and political achievements, inter-state relations, the political ideas, his patronage and personal accomplishments. These inscriptions eulogise the achievements of kings and never speak of their defeats or weaknesses. So, they are very important from the political point of view. Ashoka's Edicts, Hathigumpha inscriptions of Kharavela of Kalinga and the Allahabad Pillar inscription of Samudragupta are some of best examples. The Aihole stone inscription (Karnataka) of the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II written by Ravikirti, Girnar Rock inscription of Rudradaman, Mandasaur stone pillars inscription of Yasodharman, Nasik cave inscription of Usavadata, Gwalior prasati of King Bhoja, are some other examples.

4. Commercial Inscriptions 

These inscriptions provide us information of  commercial and trade. Their specimens are to be found on the seals of the Indus Valley. They mostly used as stamp to stamping goods.

5. Magical Inscriptions 

These inscriptions contains magical formulas on them and used as amulets. These group of inscriptions were found in Harrappan seals. These seals represents various animals, trees and deities. 

Note: The Harappan inscriptions were written in Pictographic Script and has not been deciphered yet.

6. Donative Inscriptions 

These inscriptions deals with donations of caves or buildings to monks, land and villages to monks and priests, money to educational institutions, monasteries and brahmans.

7. Commemorative Inscriptions 

These inscriptions were the record events like birth, death or other important events. Some of inscriptions in this group contain poetic compositions and dramatic works; they are termed as literary inscriptions due to these properties. For example, Rummindei inscription (Nepal), Sarnath inscription (U.P.), Dhauli inscription (Odisha), Jaugada inscription (Odisha) of Ashoka, it mentions that a huge stone pillar was erected and huge stone wall was constructed at the birthplace of Buddha (many years after his coronation).

So, Epigraphy throws light on the life lived in the past, the nature of society and economy and the general state of life as a reliable information source.

Next Article:

1. Coins or Numismatics

2. Monuments

3. Excavation works, Ruined cities and other archaeology artefacts

4. Exploration and Excavation

References

1. Wonder That Was India 

2. India's Ancient Past 

3. History of Ancient India

4. IGNOU Study Material 

Also see:

1. Bharatvarsha

2. Historical Sources

3. Archaeological Sources 

4. Literary Sources 

5. Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources

6. Archaeology Dating Methods 

7. UGC NET JRF Latest Syllabus 

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Archaeological Sources

We are well familiar with the word Archaeology; it is one of the most important field for humans to know past events most accurately. Archaeological sources are very reliable historical sources. 

The science which enables us to dig the old mounds in a systematic manner in successive layers, and to form an idea of the material life of the past people and events is called Archaeology. The methods of archaeology help us to recover the material remains of the past period of our history; this period can be an ancient, medieval or modern. And it is important to understand here that people lived in past left innumerable material remains, for example stone temples in South India are still stand to tell their story, similarly brick monasteries in Eastern India remind us about the great building activities of past period.

The material remains includes all kinds of archaeological evidences, it is a general term like monuments, ruined cities, coins, pottery, inscriptions, terracotta, artefacts, etc.

As we study in earlier article that historical sources are classified into two broader category:

1. Archaeology Sources

2. Literary Sources

Archaeology Sources are innumerable in size and so need a classification for better understanding. Archaeological sources are classified into four broader sub-categories, which are as follows:

1. Inscriptions or Epigraphy

2. Coins or Numismatics

3. Monuments

4. Excavation works, Ruined cities and other archaeology Artefacts

Next Articles:

1. Inscriptions or Epigraphy

2. Coins or Numismatics

3. Monuments

4. Excavation works, Ruined cities and other archaeology artefacts

5. Exploration and Excavation

Also see:

1. Bharatvarsha

2. Historical Sources

3. Literary Sources 

4. Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources

5. Archaeology Dating Methods 

6. UGC NET JRF Latest Syllabus 

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Negotiating with Historical Sources

All Sources that provide us the information of past events are called historical sources. The knowledge of any country's (for example India's) past can be gathered from these historical sources. 

There are various sources which lie in this category and broadly these sources can be divided into:

1. Literary Sources

2. Archaeological Sources

However, reconstruction of history of ancient past have numerous difficulties as sources for this period are limited and extremely diverse in nature. In the absence of proper literary records, our knowledge is largely based on archaeological sources. So for a better comprehension of past, evidences from literary sources has to be correlated through the cross-checking with the archaeological evidence.

Next Articles:

1. Archaeology Sources

2. Literary Sources 

3. Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources

4. Archaeological Dating Methods

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