What is source of history?

Discuss the major archaeological sources of ancient

Indian history and evaluate its significances in reconstruction of
ancient Indian history.

Source of History

Sources are considered as the basic raw material for recreating past. Historical
sources refer to the materials or evidence from which historians gather information
to reconstruct, analyze, and interpret the past.

E.H. Carr, in What is History?, highlights that sources are indispensable for
understanding history but must be critically analyzed to separate fact from bias.
These materials from where they could collect the information regarding our past
are called sources of history.

Marc Bloch, in The Historian’s Craft, emphasizes the role of sources as the
foundation for the historian's work, stating that "history is neither the accumulation
of facts nor the search for unique causes, but the interpretation of traces left by the
past. They serve as the foundation for understanding historical events, cultures, and
societies.

The sources of history are the building blocks that enable historians to understand,
analyze, and reconstruct the past. These sources are in the form of indigenous
literature, foreign literature, inscriptions, coins and material remains.

Types of Historical Sources

Primary Sources: Primary sources are original, firsthand accounts created during
the time period being studied. They offer direct evidence and include items such
as: Diaries, letters, official documents, and autobiographies;Artifacts, buildings,
and artwork and Audio recordings, photographs, and videos.

Secondary Sources: Secondary sources interpret, analyze, or evaluate

information originally presented in primary sources. These include:Books, journal
articles, documentaries, and critiques; Biographies and historical analyses.

The study of history relies on a systematic evaluation of primary and secondary

sources. Each plays a unique role in piecing together the complex puzzle of the
past, ensuring that reconstructions are both accurate and meaningful. The careful
use of these sources enables historians to bring forgotten events, cultures, and
societies to life, shaping our understanding of human civilization.

Major Archaeological Sources

The tradition of writing history had not developed in ancient India as our country
could not produce the men like Herodotus and Thucydides of Greece or Livy and
Tacitus of Rome. Later on, when the importance of writing history was felt, we did
not have any scope to know it because all our writings were only religious.
However, the inquisitiveness and consistent efforts of some scholars no doubt
could shed light on our glorious past. It became possible because they could read
out the history of our country from indestructible inscriptions, edicts, excavated
materials, coins, and also from the religious texts by separating facts from fiction.

Broadly, the indigenous literature and foreign literature can be termed as Literary
Sources, while the inscriptions, coins and material remains are called the
Archaeological Sources.

Archaeological sources are invaluable for reconstructing ancient Indian history,

particularly for periods where written records are scarce or absent. In other words,
we may say that the science which enables us to dig the old mounds in a systematic
manner and in successive layers, and to form an idea of the material life of the
people is called archaeology. In India, archaeology as a separate branch of the
study of ancient Indian history began during the Viceroy of Lord Curzon (1898–
1905), and with the discoveries of the two important sites Mohenjo-daro and
Harappa in 1921-22 A.D., history writing took a specific shape in India.
Archaeology forms an important area of study to discover the past. It is the study
of man-made antiquities. So, it is history approached from a study of the surviving
objects of the past. Archaeological sources give us some knowledge of the life of
the ancient people. These sources include material remains, structures, and
artifacts that provide insights into the socio-economic, political, and cultural
aspects of ancient India.

1. Inscriptions:

Of all the archaeological sources, inscriptions occupy a unique position as

source material of Indian history. Inscriptions supply valuable historical
facts. The study of inscriptionsis called epigraphy. The study of the writings
on ancient inscriptions and records is called paleography. Inscriptions are
seen on rocks, pillars, stones, slabs, walls of buildings, and body of temples.
They are also found on seals and copper plates.
 The earliest of these inscriptions are those of Emperor Asoka engraved on
rocks and pillars found all over India. As that emperor himself proclaimed,
he got his edicts engraved on the stone so that they might last long. The
inscriptions of Asoka are the best examples of religious and administrative
inscriptions. The Hatigumpha Inscription of Kharavela, the Allahabad pillar
inscription of Samudragupta, and many other rock and pillar inscriptions
contain most valuable historical accounts. Political, administrative and
religious matters are gathered from such sources.

2. Monuments:

The monuments are another valuable source of material consisting of

buildings, statues of stone or metals, terracotta ornamental and decorative
fragments, pottery, etc. The remains of temples, caves, Stupassculptures and
paintings are of immense value not only for the study of Indian art and
architecture but of the religious and cultural life of the period. The
excavations of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro changed our old conception of
ancient Indian history and new discoveries of the major sites of Indus Valley
may compel the historians to rename this culture.

The seals and terracotta objects discovered from different sites of the
Harappa civilization throw welcome light on its economic, religious, and
social life. Remains of art of Ashokan Period reflect the highly developed art
style and culture of the Mauryan Period. The discovery of Taxila threw more
light upon the history of Kushanas. The monuments of Taxila give idea
about Gandhara School of Art.

3. Coins:

Apart from inscriptions and monuments, coins are very vital and
imperishable aids to the reconstruction of history. The study of coins is
known as numismatics. The coins or numismatic proof is also vital to see the
chronology, property, territorial extent, religion, and relation with
neighbouring countries of the reigning king and dynasty. The history of the
Sakas, Kushanas, Scythians, Parthians and Bactrian Greeks are based on
coins. The coins of Kushana pointed out the relation between India and
Rome. The numerous coins of different metals of Gupta kings prove their
prosperity and their artistic sense.

Ancient coins were mostly manufactured from gold, silver, copper or lead.
Among the coins of ancient India, punch-marked coins of the Maurya period
were the oldest. They were either of silver or copper metal bearing the
symbols of birds, animals, mountains, trees, etc. We get the largest number
of coins in Post-Maurya times, made up of lead, tin, copper, bronze, silver,
and gold for Bactrian, Indo-Greek, and Indo-Parthian, Saka and Kushana
dynasties. The most importantseries of coins, with the names of kings
clearly engraved on them, were those issued by the Greek rulers of Bactria.

Some of the coins have religious and legendary symbols that throw light on
the culture of that time. Coins also contain the figures of kings and gods.
Some contain names and dates of the rulers. Coins also throw significant
light on the economic life of ancient people. They indicate relating to trade
and commerce and assist to reconstruct the history of many ruling dynasties.

4. Sculptures and Paintings:

Sculptures: Since Harappan period, we find evidences ofsculpturesin India.

These were made of various materials like stone, steatite, clay, terracotta,
lime, bronze, ivory, wood, etc. Some of them got place in shrine and became
idol or icon. Some of them were made to beautify the walls of temples.
Some of them were individual sculpture, made for various purposes like toys
and for entertainments. The bronze statues of dancer (Harappan civilization)
and toys (Diamabad) during Chalcolithic Period show artistic merit, as well
as expertise in metallurgy of India. Various other statues of the same
periodsindicate place of entertainment, hairstyles, ornaments and costume of
Harappans. Same is true with terracotta toys, belonged to Shunga period.
The Mauryan sculptures like the Yakshi of Didarganj indicate the
contemporary affluence and aesthetic sense of people. The sculptural reliefs
on the gateways of stupas (Sanchi, Barhut), not only display growth of
Buddhist ideology, but also of various other things like flora, fauna, civic
architecture, etc. The statue of Kanishka indicates the foreign origin of the
king and costume of foreign style like high shoes, overcoats, etc.

Paintings: Earliest instances of paintings can be found in the rockshelters of

Bhimbetaka (Madhya Pradesh). These were drawn by Mesolithic cave-
dwellers by using colours and tools from his surrounding nature. Through
these rock-paintings, we can understand the lifestyle of Mesolithic people
like his way of living, methods of hunting, the flora and fauna in his
surrounding, etc. Then, we find beautiful paintings, especially from Ajanta
and then at Bagh. The world-famous paintings of Ajanta give us information
about religious ideology, the spiritual serenity, the ornaments, the costumes,
the foreign visitors, etc. And of course, through these paintings, we can
understand the artistic merit and great aesthetic sense of concerned period.
Whereas, the paintings of Chola king on the walls of temples at Tamil Nadu
display the concept of ‘divine kingship’ of Chola polity.

In conclusion, inscriptions, monuments, coins, sculptures, and paintings

serve as invaluable primary sources for understanding ancient Indian history.
Inscriptions, often engraved on stone or metal, provide firsthand accounts of
political events, royal decrees, and societal norms. Monuments, such as
temples, stupas, and forts, offer insights into architectural advancements,
religious practices, and cultural values of their times. Coins serve as critical
evidence of economic systems, trade networks, and the evolution of art and
languages. Sculptures and paintings vividly depict the aesthetic sensibilities,
religious beliefs, and everyday life of ancient civilizations. Collectively,
these sources not only illuminate the political, social, and economic aspects
of ancient India but also reflect its rich cultural and artistic heritage, enabling
historians to reconstruct a comprehensive and nuanced narrative of the past.