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." Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from the Greek words αρχαίος = ancient and λόγος = word/speech/discourse) is the study of human cultures through the recovery, documentation and analysis of material remains and environmental data, including architecture, artifacts, biofacts, human remains, and landscapes. ...

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. William Jones is a common name, especially in Wales, and there have been several well-known individuals of this name, including: William Jones (judge) (1566-1640) William Jones (Great Britain statesman), Attorney General for England and Wales during the 17th century Sir William Jones (mathematician) (~1675-1749), father of Sir... January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1784 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Bengal, known as Bôngo (Bengali: বঙ্গ), Bangla (বাংলা), Bôngodesh (বঙ্গদেশ), or Bangladesh (বাংলাদেশ) in Bangla, is a region in the northeast of South Asia. ...

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. 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. ...

ASI administers 3606 monuments it has declared to be of national importance under the provisions of the Antiquity and Art Treasure Act 1972.

See also

• List of World Heritage Sites in India

This is a list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Asia, Australia and the Pacific. ...

External links

• Archaeological Survey of India