The ASI is facing a credibility crisis , Pg7

Key Highlights:

• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) faces scrutiny after archaeologist K. Amarnath Ramakrishna's transfer from Keeladi excavation site in Tamil Nadu.
• Keeladi excavations (started in 2014) revealed 7,500 artefacts, indicating a sophisticated, literate urban society dating back to the Iron Age.
• ASI halted the third phase of Keeladi excavation, sparking political tensions; the Madras High Court transferred the site to the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology.
• ASI's handling of excavations at Adichanallur and Sivagalai sites in Tamil Nadu contrasts with its approach to the Rajasthan excavation, raising concerns about methodological consistency.

Detailed Insights:

• Keeladi findings bridge the gap between the Iron Age and the Early Historic Period, suggesting it could be part of the second urbanisation in the Indian subcontinent.
• ASI's justification for its stance in Keeladi, citing the need for broader scientific validation, is undermined by its inconsistent conduct across different excavation projects.
• ASI's excavation in Rajasthan, linking findings to the mythical Saraswati River and the Mahabharata period, contrasts sharply with its cautious approach to Keeladi.
• Critics argue the ASI suffers from methodological nationalism, privileging a state-sanctioned vision of India’s past, and faces issues like arbitrary transfers and inadequate infrastructure.
• Unlike global counterparts, the ASI's closed internal review system limits transparency, methodological accountability, and scholarly rigour, hindering global scholarly engagement.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): Indian government agency responsible for archaeological research and the conservation of cultural monuments.
• Iron Age: Period in prehistory when iron was the primary metal for tools and weapons.
• Methodological Nationalism: Framework privileging a singular, state-sanctioned vision of a nation's past.