This book charts the flow of India's grass-roots archaeological history in all its continuities and diversities from its Palaeolithic beginnings to AD 300. The second edition includes a new afterword which discusses all new ideas and discoveries in Indian archaeology in the past one decade.

When in 1925 the initiative was taken by the Kern Institute Leiden to start the publica tion of an Annual Bibliography of Indian Archaeology, the Board of the Institute could do so with confidence, as it was sure of the assistance of scholars all over the world as to the supply of publications as well as of information. With the help of this material a bibliography could be compiled by a small team of highly skilled archaeologists who could devote part of their time and attention to such a task for the benefit of their colleagues in all parts of the world. Times since then have changed, and circumstances have become less and less favourable. To find classified labour for the compilation and editing of such a bibliography has become extremely difficult, and this the more so as this work cannot be paid in accordance with the standards for this branch of classified documentation. The work has to be done as a part of the daily routine work even a scholar in today's time is expected to perform, and which he cannot but consider as being detrimental to the performing of those parts of his work, that demand the use of those qualifications that actually make him the expert.

Focuses On The Ideas And Work Of Alexander Cunningham And Examines The Contribution Of His Assistants-Beglar And Carlleyle. Examines The Defenitions Of Archaeological Research, The Conflict Between Archaeologists And Scholars And Different Approaches Towards The Conservation Of Historical Monuments. Reconstructs The History Of-Bodh Gaya, Sanchi And Bharat And Amravati. Useful For General Readers Interested In India`S Antiguity, Students And Researchers. Has 10 Chapters Followed By A Useful Bibliography And An Index.

Not Withstanding The Remarkable Progress In The Realm Of Historical Enquiry In Our Country, Ancient India Still Remains A Mysterious Domain Where The Extant Source-Materials Have Proved To Be Inadequate And Dubious. This Explains Why So Many Topics Of Ancient Indian History And Culture Have Raged Unending Controversies Among The Historians. The Present Work Mostly Revolves Around A Few Such Controversial Issues, Which Have Been Objectively Studied Afresh In The Light Of The Available Data, Literary And Archaeological.The Book Comprises Eight Chapters: `The Imperial Mauryas: Some Problems , The Pala Kings Of Bengal And Bihar ,`Side-Lights Of The Religious Life Of Ancient Orissa , `The Satamana Metallic Currency , `Some Disquieting Features Of Indian Archaeology , `Different Categories Of The Brahmin Donees , `Historical Researches In West Bengal And `Professor Dines Chandra Sircar .