The Archaeological Survey of India is an Indian government agency in the Department of Culture that is responsible for archaeological studies and the preservation of cultural monuments. According to its website, the ASI's function is to "explore, excavate, conserve, preserve and protect the monuments and sites of National & International Importance." For referencing in Wikipedia, see Wikipedia:Citing sources. ...

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is the successor of the Asiatic Society of British archaeologist Sir William Jones, founded January 15, 1784. In 1788 it begun to publish a journal The Asiatic Researches and in 1814 built its first museum in Bengal. The Asiatic Society was founded by Sir William Jones (1746-1794) on 15 January 1784 in Calcutta, the capital of British India, to enhance and further the cause of Oriental research. ... William Jones is a common name, especially in Wales, and there have been several well-known individuals of this name, including: // Academics and authors William Jones (historian) (1860–1932) Sir William Jones (mathematician) (~1675–1749), father of Sir William Jones (philologist) Sir William Jones (philologist) (1746–1794) son of Sir... is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1784 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... For other uses, see Bengal (disambiguation). ...

The ASI in its current form was founded in 1861 under British colonial administration by Sir Alexander Cunningham with the help of the then Viceroy Canning. At the time, its domain also included Afghanistan. When Mortimer Wheeler became Director-General in 1944, the head-office of the Survey was located at the Railway Board building in Simla. After independence, it came under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites And Remains Act of 1958. Sir Alexander Cunningham (23 January 1814–28 November 1893) was an English archaeologist and army engineer, known as the father of the Archaeological Survey of India. ... Charles John Canning, 1st Earl Canning Charles John Canning, 1st Earl Canning KG GCB KSI PC (14 December 1812–17 June 1862), known as Viscount Canning from 1837 to 1859, was an English statesman and Governor-General of India during the Mutiny of 1857. ... Brigadier Sir Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler Kt, CH, CIE, MC (10 September 1890–22 July 1976), was one of the best-known British archaeologists of the twentieth century. ... , Shimla   (Hindi: िशमला, Urdu: شملہ), originally called Simla, is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. ...

ASI administers 3636 monuments it has declared to be of national importance under the provisions of the Antiquity and Art Treasure Act 1972.

The important sites excavated recently include Harsha-ka-Tila at Thanesar in Haryana exposing a culturall sequence from the Kushan period to medieval periods. For the town in Hoshiarpur district, see Hariana. ... Boundary of the Kushan empire, c. ... This article needs cleanup. ...

Directors-General

• 1871 - 1885 Sir Alexander Cunningham
• 1886 - 1889 Dr James Burgess
• 1902 - 1928 Sir John Marshall
• 1928 - 1931 Harold Hargreaves
• 1931 - 1935 Rai Bahadur Daya Ram Sahni
• 1935 - 1937 J. F. Blakiston
• 1937 - 1944 Rao Bahadur K.N. Dikshit
• 1944 - 1948 Sir Mortimer Wheeler
• 1948 - 1950 N. P. Chakravarti
• 1950 - 1953 Madhav Swaroop Vats
• 1953 - ....... A. Ghosh
• current .......C. Babu Rajeev

Sir Alexander Cunningham (23 January 1814–28 November 1893) was an English archaeologist and army engineer, known as the father of the Archaeological Survey of India. ... John Hubert Marshall was an English archaeologist, excavator of the prehistoric city of Taxila in the Himalayas, in todays Pakistan, and of other sites throughout India. ... Brigadier Sir Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler Kt, CH, CIE, MC (10 September 1890–22 July 1976), was one of the best-known British archaeologists of the twentieth century. ...

See also

• List of World Heritage Sites in India.
• Dholavira Ancient Metropolitan City. Application is pending for World Heritage Site.
• Survey of India is India's central agency in charge of mapping and surveying.
• Geological Survey of India conducts geological surveys and studies.
• Mahabalipuram (Underwater city)

This is a list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Asia, Australia and the Pacific (Australasia). ... Dholavira, an ancient metropolitan city, and locally known as Kotada Timba Prachin Mahanagar Dholavira, is one of the largest and most prominent archaeological sites in India, belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization. ... The Survey of India is Indias central agency in charge of mapping and surveying. ... The word mapping has several senses: In mathematics and related technical fields, it is some kind of function: see map (mathematics). ... Surveyor at work with a leveling instrument. ... Geological Survey of India (GSI), established in 1851, is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world, and is a premier organization of India for conducting geological surveys and studies. ... Geology (from Greek γη- (ge-, the earth) and λογος (logos, word, reason)) is the science and study of the Earth, its composition, structure, physical properties, history, and the processes that shape it. ... Shore Temple, rescued from the sea Mahabalipuram (Tamil:மகாபலிபுரம்) (also known as Mamallapuram) is a town in Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. ...

External links

• Archaeological Survey of India

• World Heritage Site, All Tentative Sites, Here is an overview of all tentative lists, last updated January 2007.
• World Heritage, Tentative Lists, State : India.
• Dholavira: a Harappan City, Disstt, Kachchh, Gujarat, India, India (Asia and the Pacific), Date of Submission: 03/07/1998 , Submission prepared by : Archaeological Survey of India, Coordinates: 23°53'10" N, 70°11'03" E, Ref.: 1090