Inscriptions

•dynastic history•social history •diachronic linguistic studies

Historical uses of Inscriptions

pottery and ceramics

temple walls

copper plate inscriptions

death memorials

estampage transcription

Annual Report on Indian Epigraphy (also known as ARE report)

publication

Collection, Notice and Publication of Inscritiptions by the Archaeological Survey

of India (ASI)

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making an estampage

an estampage

Published Inscription

Text

annual report on Indian epigraphy

Other Publications and Epigraphical Journals that do not use the ARE numbering

systemSouth Indian Temple InscriptionsAvanamTamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology

Major Archaeological Survey of India Publications

South Indian InscriptionsEpigraphia Indica

Digitization of Epigraphical Materials

Purpose:ResearchEducation

Potential Obstacles:lack of clarity in methodologylack of resources

1. Digitization of Epigraphical Publications

2. Creation of Expandable Digital Archive

Approach

• ARE Number or notational number• Publication, bibliographic entry• dynasty/king• date• location/findspot• language• description of physical appearance• brief description of contents• text o transcription into modern Tamil according to epigraphic

conventiono estampage/photograph o translation

Sample Data Entry Fields