Minor Antiquities in the Museums of Eastern India (An Old and Rare Book)

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About the Book Archeological museums are the custodians of excavated and explored materials from the ancient world. Minor antiquities are excavated materials, small in size but not small in significance, So people must know the unexplored message within the tiny pieces of objects. The aim of the treatise is to explore the contribution that Eastorn Indian museums can make for the people to serve their educational, social and cultural noods by an effective communication process.

Distributed in seven chapters, this book describes different types of minor antiquities, the history of collection in different museums in Eastern India. A museological study has been dono regarding the documentation of minor antiquities, their storage control, exhibition and communication of the inherent meaning of those tiny objects. It also put some suggestions for betterment of the exhibition and communication in museums.

About the Author Dr. Mahua Chakrabarti is a lecturer in Museology in the University of Calcutta. After obtaining an honours degree in history and post graduate degree in Museology, from the University of Calcutta, she worked as the UGC Research Fellow in 1998. She was awarded the Ph.D. degree in 2002. Her area of research was "Minor Antiquities in the Museums of Eastern India: Problems of Communication to the Visitors". This book is based on her thesis paper.

Mahua has written a number of articles in different museological journals. She also manages a Web Page on Museology www.geocities.com/hubherit age. She is also the co author of the book "Museums: Norms and Terms: A Selective Approach" (Sankha Basu & Mahua Chakrabarti, 1999, Kolkata: Dey's Publishing). Another book is in press to be published soon from the National Book Trust.

Preface Easy availability of varieties of small archeological remains at different corners of the country gave Immediate impetus to the growth of collection of minor antiquities in the museums of eastern India. The minor antiquities discussed in various books, monographs and archeological survey reports are assembled in one place in this book. Right from the collections, their historical background, documentation and storage provisions as well as communication processes are discussed in this book. I tried to give a brief picture of minor antiquities collected in museums of eastern India. I have made a sincere effort but I feel there may be some short comings.

I express my deep regards to Prof. Samir Kumar Mukherjee, former Professor and at present Emeritus Fellow, Department of Museology, who as my supervisor of the Ph.D. programme helped me masterminding the treatise. I obtained active support from Dr. Chhanda Das, Reader & Head of the Department of Museology, Calcutta University, Dr. Sakti Kali Basu, former Director, Indian Museum, Kolkata, Dr. Gautam Sengupta, Director, Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of West Bengal.

I appreciate and acknowledge all the help and suggestions from Smt. Gagari Chakrabarti, Lecturer in Economics, Barasat Government College, Sri Debasis Bandyopadhyay and Smt. Manas! Bandyopadhyay. Smt. Reshmi Chattopadhyay, Smt. Kausiki Bagchi and Sri Sankha Basu, Museum & Art Gallery, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark.

Introduction Archeological museums are custodians of antiquities collected from a wide spectrum of culture. Such museums collect minor antiquities as a part of their acquisition to fascinate and inspire viewers. Minor antiquities are small but not small in importance. These are the objects of utilitarian purpose like, objects of daily use, children's toy, ornaments, gems and intaglios, seals and sealings, ritualistic things, etc. To people, in general, archaeological museum means storehouse of sculptures, coins, architectural members, Inscriptions, etc. However an archaeological museum is not limited in these areas. Though little emphasis was given upon the study of minor antiquities but these are also conveyers of culture. Perhaps it may seem that minor antiquities are too insignificant to reveal the actual culture of a community and perhaps for this reason these are "minor" or "inferior in importance". But they are called "minor" simply because of their small dimensions. So people must know the unexplored message within the tiny pieces of objects. Communication makes us to know that how minor antiquities were used in their own world, that is, in ancient cultures and it helps to judge our modern culture in comparison to ancient ones.

Originating from the Mouselon. the museum subsequently attained its modern form through a long process. Man's Inherent nature in accumulating and preserving treasures for personal and family security and self glorification gradually transformed into the collections for public use, education and pleasure. Museum, a 'cultural memory bank of the age now matured in an important institution signifying history of civilization and pointing to future progress.

However, it is arbitrary to think that museums are simply for collecting and preserving objects of curiosity. Now, museums are not secluded from society. They develop along with other social institutions, practices, values and attitudes. Albelt the nucleus of a museum is tactile objects, the essential value of collections is judged by the message within them and how effectively the message is communicated to the global community.

**Contents and Sample Pages**