Indian Institute of Heritage

(Formerly National Museum Institute)

Drone View of a Few Trenches at Kunal

Department of Archaeology
Brochure 2023-24

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About Indian Institute of Heritage (Formerly National Museum Institute)
The Indian Institute of Heritage is a deemed to be University under the Ministry of Culture.
The Institute offers full-time M.A. and Ph.D. courses in the disciplines of History of Art,
Conservation, Museology, Archaeology, and Palaeography, Epigraphy & Numismatics. The
institute was formerly the National Museum Institute of the History of Art, Conservation and
Museology was formed and registered on January 27, 1989 under the Societies Registration
Act, 1860 and was accorded the status of 'Deemed to be University' on April 28, 1989. Since
its inception, the Institute has been one of the leading centres in the country for training and
research in the field of art and cultural heritage. With the new name, the Indian Institute of
Heritage aspires to reach new heights and provide holistic learning through the new courses.

M.A. Archaeology
India is a land of cultural diversity. Archaeological evidences prove the country’s rich cultural
heritage. Archaeology is a field which involves systematic unearthing of the past through
various scientific processes. It also encompasses the understanding, interpretation, and analysis
of the past human practices which have shaped the mankind’s present. Archaeology as a field
also dwells into the relationship of man with his environment, be it flora, fauna, orother human
communities. The field of Archaeology also interacts with many other subject areas such as
history, history of art, anthropology, palaeography, epigraphy, numismatics, art conservation,
museology, etc. In this era of rejuvenating interest in the field of history and allied disciplines,
archaeology finds a unique place, representing a perfect cusp of science, technology, history,
and culture studies.
The Indian Institute of Heritage is one of the few higher education institutions in India offering
full-time M.A. and Ph.D. degree in Archaeology. Leading field archaeologist, numismatist, art
critic, and the Vice-Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Heritage, Professor Dr. B.R. Mani, is
heading the department. The M.A. (Archaeology) programme envisions engaging young.
minds in unearthing and understanding our rich cultural heritage by imparting knowledge and
training in a holistic manner. The Department looks forward to a close collaboration with
cultural institutions such as the Archaeological Survey of India, the Institute of Archaeology,
State Archaeological departments, museums, and other similar institutions to provide the best
exposure and practical experience to the students pursuing this course.
In pursuit of training students with an interdisciplinary approach, the Department ardently
looks forward to establishing dynamic relationship with esteemed art, culture, and heritage
institutions in India and abroad.
In the spirit of fostering a profound appreciation for the past and conserving it for the future,
the Department strives to inculcate in the students a deep sense of respect and responsibility
towards cultural heritage management.

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Importance & Scope
In this age of globalisation, it is important to understand human behaviour and how different
people and cultures interact. Training in Archaeology and allied fields is crucial to preserve the
past, manage the present, and shape the future of mankind.
Getting trained in theoretical and practical aspects of Archaeology expands the scope of the
pass-outs in meaningfully involving themselves in interdisciplinary areas such as
archaeological/historical/sociological research and teaching, language and cultural studies,
museum curation, heritage management, etc.

Why us?
The Indian Institute of Heritage is one of the very few higher education institutes in the country
that provides state of the art facilities in diverse areas of art and culture studies. One of the
unique features of this Institute is its strong and continuous collaborations with leading
museums and cultural institutions of India. These enable well-designed practical sessions for
the students in the form of archaeological site visits, museum visits, and the like. The special
features of the Department of Archaeology are:
Expert Faculty
Renowned scholars teach and interact with students to help them in various academic and
research activities. Students are taught different aspects of heritage studies such as field
archaeology, numismatics, palaeography, etc.
Hands-On Experience
Participate in site visits and archaeological excavations, museum visits
Interdisciplinary Approach
Theory and practical sessions boast of interdisciplinary approach, enabling students to explore
various facets of history, archaeology, culture studies, research methodology and many more.
Internship & scholarship opportunities
Meritorious students are offered internship and scholarship opportunities.

Prof. (Dr.) B.R. Mani involved in excavation at Rajghat, Varanasi

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Career prospects

The academic training offered by this department may enable the students to see themselves in
government and non-government sectors as:
Archaeologist
Work with Archaeological Survey of India and its State Archaeology departments on
archaeological excavations, archaeological research, etc.
Historian
Specialize in historical research, focusing on the history and culture of specific regions or time
periods
Museum Professional
Working in a museum as curator, educator, content manager, etc. Curate exhibitions at
museums and heritage institutions, showcasing historical scripts and artifacts.
Academician
Teach and conduct research in varied areas of history, archaeology and cultural heritage at
universities and research institutions.
Cultural Heritage Manager
Manage and preserve cultural heritage sites, archives, and collections.

Left: Prof. (Dr.) B.R. Mani on the Kunal Excavation site 2017-18
Right: Prof. (Dr.) B.R. Mani at Lal Kot 1994-95: Geo Radar Survey in Anang Tal

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Admissions 2023-24
Join us in preserving and understanding our rich heritage. Admissions are now open for M.A.
in Archaeology

Eligibility: A graduate degree from a recognised university with minimum 50% marks or
equivalent grade in any of the following subjects: History; Ancient Indian History, Culture and
Archaeology; Sanskrit; Pali; Chinese; Tibetan; Geology; Anthropology; History of Art;
Museology
Desirable: Field experience/proficiency in computer application

Eligibility criteria for In-service personnel: In service personnel working with Central
Government/ State Government/ Autonomous organization / Universities funded by Central or
State Government / NGOs (in that order) with at least 5 years regular service, having the above
required qualification, will also be eligible to apply.

Admission procedure: A written test of one hour duration followed by personal interaction

Last date to Apply: 30th August, 2023 (up to 05:00 PM).

Date of Written Test and Personal Interaction: The date of entrance exam is 11.09.2023.
The one-hour written test will be conducted from 10:00 am onwards. This will be followed by
personal interaction.

Number of Seats: Fifteen

Syllabus for the Entrance Exam

a. Prehistory, protohistory and history

b. Understanding of the role of archaeology in society
c. History and Elements of Archaeology
d. Role of natural sciences in Archaeology
e. Ancient Indian religions and philosophy
f. Development of civilizations
g. Ancient civilizations
h. Archaeology & Literature
i. Early India: Sources & Modes of Interpretation
j. Early India: sculptural art and painting, iconography, architecture, inscriptions and
coins
k. Concept of ‘site’ in archaeology, categories of sites

Visit the “News and Events” section on our website http://www.nmi.gov.in/ for details.

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Prof. (Dr.) B.R. Mani seen during an exploration at Gao Chang, China

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