Archaeology across the UGC NET Syllabus
Unit - I
Introduction to Archaeology:
Definition; aims, scope and ethics of archaeology; history and growth of
Archaeology. History of Indian archaeology.
Relationship of archaeology with social and natural sciences.
Type and nature of archaeological data.
Retrieval of archaeological data: Methods of explorations and excavations.
(Random and systematic prospections; subsurface investigations using modern
techniques such as remote sensing, resistivity surveys). Recording and
documentation.
Methods of artefact analysis: categorization, classification and characterization.
Methods of interpretation and related issues: Application of sociological and
anthropological models: Ethnography and experimental replication studies;
Traditional, Processual and Post-Processual approaches.
Preparation of archaeological reports.
Conservation and preservation of archaeological remains/sites: Aims and
Methods; Antiquarian laws.
Chronology and Dating Methods:
Relative dating: Cultural stratigraphy, biostratigraphy, typology, Fluorine,
Nitrogen and Phosphate analysis; Soil analysis
Chronometric methods: Radiocarbon (C14), Potassium/Argon, Fission track,
Luminescence dating (TL and OSL), Dendrochronology, Palaeomagnetic dating
Varve analysis, ESR dating, Obsidian hydration, Cosmogenic nuclides method of
dating.
UNIT – II:
Introduction to Prehistory
Prehistoric beginning: Geological, biological and cultural dimensions of humans.
Human origin and Geological time scale: Late Tertiary (Miocene and Pliocene)
and Quaternary Periods; Plio-Pleistocene boundary, Paleomagnetic records,
Pleistocene and Holocene epochs. Major environment and climatic changes of
Pleistocene; Pleistocene and Marine Isotopic Stages (MIS).
Biostratigraphy of the Pleistocene: Pleistocene flora and Fauna.
Main stages of human evolution and important fossil records: Hominin ancestors
of the Late Miocene, Pliocene and the Pleistocene: Pre-Australopiths,
Australopiths and Homo; Hypotheses on modern human dispersal.
Cultural backdrop: Evolution of stone implements and development of lithic
technologies: The Oldowan, Acheulian and the Flake and Blade based industries
of the Stone Age.
Palaeolithic cultural development in the world context:
Africa, Europe and South East Asia and China.
Early Stone Age, Middle Stone Age and Late Stone Age of Africa; Lower
Palaeolithic, Middle Palaeolithic and Upper Palaeolithic of Europe and West Asia.
Palaeolithic cultural developments in China and South East Asia.
Prehistoric Art: antiquity, significance, distribution.
Unit - III
Palaeolithic cultural developments in the Indian subcontinent:
Geo-chronology and Stone Age cultures of India: The Sohan Valley and the
Potwar Plateau sites in the Sivalik hills, The Belan and Son valleys, Didwana dune
16R in Rajasthan, Kortlayar valley/Attirampakkam in Tamilnadu and
Jwalapuram in Andhra Pradesh.
Lower Palaeolithic culture: Tool types and lithic technology; The Sohan industry
and its antiquity; The Acheulian industry and its spread into major river valleys:
Sites in the Narmada and the Sabarmati valleys, the Belan and the Son valley
sites, sites in the Hunsgi and Baichabal valleys, sites in the Krishna and the
Godavari valleys, sites in the Kortlayar valley; sites associated with the Playas of
Rajasthan.
Middle Palaeolithic culture and geographical spread; Tool types and lithic
technology of the Middle Palaeolithic: the prepared core techniques/Levallois
technique.
The Upper Palaeolithic culture: Tool types and lithic technologies of the Upper
Palaeolithic: Blade and bone implements; geographic distribution and major
sites.
Prehistoric Art in the Indian context: Antiquity, significance and distribution
Unit – IV
Mesolithic and Neolithic cultures:
Mesolithic in Europe; Epi-Palaeolithic developments in West Asia
Neolithic and Food Production: Neolithic stage in West Asia and China.
Mesolithic culture of the Indian subcontinent: Characteristic features; Tool types
and micro-blade technology; regional variations in tool assemblages; Evidence of
incipient stages of food production. Patterns of ecological adaptation and
distribution: Sites in the alluvial plains, horseshoe lakes, coastal sites, sand-dune
sites, sites in the plateaus and rock-shelter sites.
Neolithic cultures of the Indian subcontinent: Early farming communities of
Baluchistan: Mehrgarh and Kili-Gul-Muhammad. Neolithic culture in Kashmir.
Neolithic culture in the Central Ganga and Vindhyan region: Koldihwa,
Mahagara, Lahuradewa etc. Eastern Neolithic sites: Chirand, Chechar Senuwar,
Kuchai, and Baidyapur and the Neolithic culture of the North-Eastern region:
Sarutaru, Selbalgiri, Daojali Hading, Marakdola.
Neolithic cultural development in the southern peninsular India: Sanganakallu,
Pikhlihal, Uttnur, Kodekal, Teklakota, Hallur, Nagarjunakonda and Ash-mound
sites.
Unit – V
Proto-history:
Courses towards urbanization: The Harappa culture.
Formative stages of the Harappa culture: Emergence of village farming/
Chalcolithic settlements and beginning of regional cultures in the North and
North-Western India and Pakistan. Contemporary developments in the Gagghar-
Saraswati system and in Gujarat (Pre-Urban /Pre and Early Harappan cultural
development).
Early Harappan and the emergence of the Urban Harappan cultural ethos.
Urban Harappan and geographical spread; settlement features; town planning
and architecture; Economic production: the urban-rural dichotomy, agriculture
and craft production. Trade and subsistence; standardisation of craft and the
Harappan script, evidence of overseas contacts. Socio-political organization; art
and evidence of religious beliefs; Authors? Important excavated sites:
Mohanjodaro, Harappa, Kalibangan, Lothal, Dholavira, Surkotada, Banawali,
Rakhigarhi, Bagasra, Rojdi, Rangpur.
Regional variations within the material culture: the concept of Sorath and
Sindhi/Classical Harappan in Gujarat.
Post-Urban Harappan
Decline of the Urban Harappan: causes of decline and different theories on
decline .
Post-Urban phase: evidence from the Indus valley, Gagghar-Saraswati system
and from Gujarat (Post-Urban or Late Harappa cultures of Sindh, Punjab,
Haryana, Gujarat and Western Uttar Pradesh).
Other Chalcolithic Cultures of India:
The Copper Hoard and Ochre Coloured Pottery; Chalcolithic cultural remains in
the Ganga plain.
The Banas/Ahar cultural developments in southern Rajasthan and its antiquity
and distribution.
The Kayatha assemblage of Madhya Pradesh.
The Malwa culture of the Narmada valley and its geographic distribution.
Chalcolithic cultures of the Deccan region (Savalda, Malwa, Jorwe cultures).
UNIT – VI
The Iron Age and growth of new urban centres. Antiquity of Iron in India: Early
stages of Iron Age, new evidence from Malhar, Dadupur, Raja Nal-ka-tila,
Hallur, Kumaranahalli and Kodumanal.
Painted Grey Ware culture: Extent, and Chronology and characteristic traits.
Northern Black Polished Ware culture: Extent, chronology and characteristic
traits.
Iron Age in Peninsular India:
The Megalithic culture in peninsular India and beyond: Geographical spread,
typology, chronological contexts, cultural artefacts and authors of Megalithic
tradition.
The beginning of Early Historic period and the emergence of Urban centres in the
Ganga Valley and Peninsular India.
Multiple modes of economic production, expansion of trade and development of
trade routes, Maritime trade; emergence of new Urban centres.
Emergence of urban centres:
Important city sites: Rajghat, Ujjain, Vaisali, Taxila, Mathura, Sravasti, Kausambi,
Sisupalgargh etc.
Important sites of Historical period:
Sringaverpura, Ahichhatra, Atiranjikhera, Hasthinapur, Khairadih,
Chandarketugarh, Nasik, Adam, Satanikota, Nagarjunakonda, Arikamedu,
Kodumanal, Pattanam.
Unit – VII
Architecture: A significant source of Indian history
The Stupa architecture: Structural Stupas: Origin and development: North and
South Indian stupas.
Development of Rock-cut architecture: Origin and Development - Buddhist
Brahmanical and Jain.
Temple Architecture: Origin and development of temples, Main features of the
temple architecture, features and development of distinct architectural styles of
Nagara, Vesara, Dravida and Bhumija temples.
Gupta, Chalukyan, Pallava and Rashtrakuta temples. Regional styles: Khajuraho
temples, Temples of Odisha and Chola temples.
Art and Iconography
Sculptural Art: Stone and Bronze: Antiquity and development: The Mauryan
pillar capitals, early Yaksha-Yakshi images, Shunga, Western Kshatrapa,
Satvahana sculptures; the Kushana sculptures: Mathura and Gandhara Schools;
Gupta sculptures: Saranath school; Chalukya, Pallava; Pala, Chandela, Chola and
Hoysala sculptures.
Iconography
Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Kartikeya, Ganesha, Surya, Shakti, Tirthankara (Rishabh
dev, Parshvanath and Mahavira), Buddha, Bodhisattva and Tara.
Terracotta Art: Mauryan to the Gupta period
Paintings: Rock-cut cave paintings: Ajanta, Bagh and Sittanavasal
Unit – VIII
Palaeography and Epigraphy:
Epigraphy as a source of Indian history:
Origin and antiquity of writing in India;
Origin and development of Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts: Various theories.
Study of selected inscriptions: Asokan Edicts: Rock Edicts II, X, XII, XIII; Lumbini
inscription of Asoka; Minor rock edict of Bairat; Besnagar Garuda pillar
inscription; Hathigumpha inscription of Kharvela, Ushavadata inscription in
Nasik cave 10, Junagadh inscription of Rudradaman, Nasik cave III inscription of
Vasishtaputra Pulmavi Year 19; Swat relic casket inscription; Saranath Buddha
image inscription, Lucknow museum Jain image inscription of the time of
Huviska; Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta; Bhitri inscription of
Skandagupta, Aihole pillar inscription of Pulkesin II; Gwalior inscription of Mihir
Bhoja; Khalimpur copper plate of Dharmpala; Sanjan copper plate of
Amoghavarsha, Mandsor inscription of Yeshovaran; Truvalangad copper plates
of Rajendra Chola year 6 and Sangli copper plate of Govinda IV, Tharsapalli
copper plates.
Unit – IX
Numismatics: Coins as an important source of history
Origin and antiquity of coinage in ancient India.
Technique/Methods of manufacturing coins: Silver, copper, gold and alloys.
Main type of coins: Punch marked coins, inscribed and un-inscribed cast coins.
Janpada and tribal coins, Indo-Greek coins. Saka-Kashtrapa, Kushana and
Satavahana coinage; Coins of the Gupta dynasty; Roman coins. Brief account of
Early Medieval Indian coinage.
Unit – X
Methodology of archaeological research.
Role and characteristics of research, research ethics, methods of research; case
studies and field investigations; Hypothesis formulation and research design;
data collection and processing: Primary and secondary sources, use of
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in archaeological research;
Methods of systematic referencing; Systematic presentation of data and results
