INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY AFTER SIR JOHN MARSHALL AN APPRAISAL OF THE CONTENTS OF SIR LEONARD WOOLLEY’S 1939 REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Abstract

This article deals with an important issue in the history of South Asian archaeology. The Archaeological Survey of India, which had been constituted in 1861, was headed by Sir John Marshall, as Director General, from 1902 to 1928. He was succeeded by four other heads till 1947. However, in the late 1930s it was felt that Indian archaeology needs revitalization; hence an archaeologist from the UK, Sir Leonard Woolley, was invited to study the state of Indian archaeology and provide recommendations for its future practice. Woolley submitted his report to the government in early 1939. Since the report is not widely available. This study has summarized its contents so as to presents its overview to the wider public.