Overview

Archaeological explorations and research in colonial South Asia were carried out within the native and British political and administrative dispensations, and so far, the disciplinary histories have almost entirely focused on colonial institutions, legalities and individuals. As a result, a vital local element in the entire process of archaeological work has been neglected. The studies that are collected in this volume, with their focus on the princely states, provide an important alternative perspective.   There were more than 500 local royal houses in India, which together governed two-fifths of the entire subcontinent. Some were of considerable significance in terms of geography, resources and population. They also housed some remarkable antiquities and monuments. However, although politically and administratively divided, India was crisscrossed by the explorers, antiquarians and officials of the Archaeological Survey of India. Princely Archaeologies and Plural Sovereignties in Modern South Asia collects the small group of vitally valuable studies that have been published to date, with the aim of streamlining the study of the princely past through princely archaeologies and wider South Asian historiographical considerations. The 13 papers range from the first narrative of princely archaeologies, which appeared in 1939, to postcolonial investigations from the beginning of the 21st century. They deal with themes of exploration, conservation, legality and sovereignty. The crucial role played by princely durbars has been highlighted, but more significantly the colonial bias of conventional narratives is exposed. Concluding the volume, a newly written chapter by the editor explores further avenues for historical investigation in the field of princely archaeologies.

Full Product Details

Author:   Rafiullah Khan (Associate Professor, Institute of Archaeology and Civilizations, Quaid-i-Azam University)
Publisher:   Archaeopress
Imprint:   Archaeopress Access Archaeology
Weight:   0.693kg
ISBN:  

9781805831495

ISBN 10:   1805831496
Pages:   126
Publication Date:   27 November 2025
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements Foreword – Upinder Singh Introduction – Rafiullah Khan   Part I: Early Twentieth Century Accounts of Archaeology and Conservation in Princely States Chapter 1: Hyderabad – Ghulam Yazdani Chapter 2: Mysore – M.H. Krishna Chapter 3: Baroda – Hirananda Sastri Chapter 4: Jammu and Kashmir – Ram Chandra Kak Chapter 5: Gwalior – M.B. Garde Chapter 6: Travancore – R.V. Poduval Chapter 7: Jaipur – Daya Ram Sahni Chapter 8: Bhopal, Nagod, Mayurbhanj – Ramaprasad Chanda   Part II: Postcolonial Perspectives on Princely Initiatives and Interventions Chapter 9: Sanchi: Colonial Archaeology and the Bhopal Durbar – Nayanjot Lahiri Chapter 10: Negotiations of Heritage between Princely and Colonial Authorities – Upinder Singh Chapter 11: Mayurbhanj State: An Account of Archaeological Research (1905–49) – Rajasri Mukhopadhyay Chapter 12: Swat and Beyond: Giuseppe Tucci, IsMEO in Pakistan and the Gilgit Manuscripts – Luca M. Olivieri Part III: What Next? Chapter 13: The Loss of Innocence: Princely Archaeologies vis-à-vis South Asian Historiography – Rafiullah Khan

Reviews

‘The volume would be valuable not only for scholars and students but also for heritage professionals and policymakers engaged in conservation and cultural governance.’ – Fazal Khaliq (2025): Dawn

Author Information

Rafiullah Khan is Associate Professor at Taxila Institute of Archaeology and Civilizations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. He holds a PhD in Asian  Studies with a focus on South Asian archaeological historiography, investigating colonial archaeological explorations in Malakand Agency, particularly the area of the ex-princely state of Swat. In his postdoctoral work at the University of Oxford, the same topic was further explored and analysed making use of various archives in England. His research analyses colonial knowledge production, legalities, princely and local contributions and the wider socio-political milieu in which archaeological work was carried out.

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