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U.P.P.C.S. Mains 2006

History of Indian Archaeology

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

The first archaeologist who excavated Harappa, but could not recognize its significance, was:

Solution & Analysis

Answer: A

Concept Early archaeology in India was often focused on identifying sites mentioned in Buddhist and Chinese travelogues, which biased early researchers.

Explanation Alexander Cunningham, the first Director-General of the ASI, visited Harappa in the 1850s. He found a seal but tried to fit it into the timeline of early historical India (6th century BCE).

Logical Breakup
A. Cunningham (A): He missed the significance because his framework was focused on the 'Gangetic' civilization and he lacked comparable data for a Bronze Age culture.
Sir John Marshall (B): He was the one who finally announced the discovery of the Indus Civilization to the world in 1924.

Active Recall

Question

Why did Cunningham fail to recognize Harappa's age?

Answer

He primarily used Chinese pilgrim accounts as his guide, which did not account for a civilization thousands of years older than Buddhism.

Core Insight

Cunningham's oversight shows how our interpretations of the past are limited by the historical frameworks and 'maps' we choose to follow.

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