Abstract
SIR LEONARD WOOLLEY'S report on the archæologieal survey of India is a comprehensive document covering in some detail the large number of problems which presented themselves to its author during his three months’ stay in the country, and is characterized by a frankness of statement and freedom of criticism unusual in an official publication. It is, however, clear that with issues vital for the future of archæological studies and of interest not to India alone but also to the whole body of scholarship concerned with the scientific investigation of past civilizations, the situation necessitated plain speaking. As Sir Leonard points out, moneys from a reduced allocation from public funds were being wasted by misdirection, evidence was being destroyed through ignorance, incompetence or lack of training, and at the same time not only was no attempt being made to remedy lack of knowledge of India's cultural history or fill in the gaps in the archaeological record, but also the very existence of these defects was barely realized.
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Work of the Archæological Survey of India*. Nature 144, 758–759 (1939). https://doi.org/10.1038/144758a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/144758a0