Drawing on the photographic albums in the personal collection of Sir John Marshall, Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India from 1902–1928, this volume is a study exploring multiple perceptions of Indian history and related scholarship produced through archaeological fieldwork during the colonial period. Whilae maintaining focus on Marshall’s contributions to South Asian archaeology, the themes of the essays include the rise of archaeology as an authoritative element for historical scholarship during the 18th and 19th centuries, the preservation of monuments and historical landscapes, and the complex relationships between photography and archaeology. The book highlights major sites such as Sanchi, Sarnath, Mohenjodaro and Taxila often referred to as Marshall’s archaeological triumphs. With over 100 illustrations and an extensive bibliography, this volume offers a detailed account of the investigative technique that developed into a commanding disciplinary science archaeology within British India. with contributions from Michael Dodson, Tapati Guha-Thakurta, Robert Harding, Christopher Pinney and B D Chattopadhyaya.