upscools
U.P.P.C.S. Special Prelims 2008

Ancient Indian Paleography

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Pre-Ashokan Brahmi script was found at:

Solution & Analysis

Answer: B

Concept While Brahmi is most famously associated with Emperor Ashoka, archaeological findings have pushed back the dates of its usage in the subcontinent and Sri Lanka.

Explanation Excavations at Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka) revealed pottery shards (post-sherds) with Brahmi characters dating back to the 4th or 5th century BCE, predating the Mauryan emperor Ashoka.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Option B is correct. The discovery at Anuradhapura provided critical evidence that the Brahmi script was already in use for trade and administration before Ashoka standardized it for his edicts.
Logic 2: Sites like Nagarjunakonda (A), Brahmagiri (C), and Maski (D) are famous for Ashokan edicts or later inscriptions, not for Pre-Ashokan evidence.

Active Recall

Question

Why is the Anuradhapura discovery important for history?

Answer

It proves that literacy and a standardized writing system existed in the region well before the Mauryan imperial expansion.

Core Insight

The presence of early Brahmi in Sri Lanka suggests a sophisticated maritime trade network between the island and the Indian mainland in the pre-Mauryan era.

Practice Navigation