Question

The study of inscription is called………….
A) Archaeology
B) Numismatic
C) Epigraphy
D) Palaeography

Answer 1

Hint: An inscription is the intaglio lettering on hard rock surfaces, copper plates, palm leaves, coins, sculptures, bronze images and paintings. Scripts are any particular system of writing or the written means of human activities and communications.

Complete answer:
Epigraphy is the study of inscriptions and scripts. The word “Epi” means outer layer. Evolution of script are cave paintings, graffiti, pictography. Logography, ideography, syllabic writing, alphabet.

Purpose of inscription:
-Label describing ownership
-Royal orders
-Donations to temples
-Sale deeds and agreements
-Punishment
-Heroic deeds

Types of scripts:
-Asokan Brahmi- Tamil Brahmi- Singhalese Brahmi
-Vattezhuthu
-Tamil Ezhuthu
-Kolezhuthu- Kerala
-Granta
-Nagari- Devanagari- Sanskrit- Hindi

Methods of analysis:
-Chronology
-Development of script
-Palaeography
-Analysis of content
-Linguistic
-Text analysis

Contributions of epigraphers are that finding inscription, collecting inscription, documenting inscriptions, reading inscriptions, categorizing inscription, date inscriptions, contextualizing inscription, translating, editing and republishing. In India, The Gadhwa Stone Inscriptions were discovered in Uttar Pradesh. It is about the earlier th- century CE Sanskrit inscriptions.

Thus the option (C) is the correct answer.

Note: Cuneiform is considered the oldest form of writing in the world. Palaeography is the study of development of scripts. Epigraphy is a basic tool of Archaeology while dealing with literate cultures. B.L. Rice is the father of kannada epigraphy. Gadhwa stone inscription is the famous stone inscription in India.