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Organisation : Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC)
Exam Name : TNPSC Post Of Archaeological Officer Exam
Service : Tamil Nadu General Subordinate Service
Announcement : TNPSC Post of Archaeological Officer Exam Syllabus
Website : https://www.tnpsc.gov.in/English/new_syllabus.html

What is TNPSC Post Of Archaeological Officer Exam?

TNPSC (Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission) conducted post of Archaeological Officer in Archaeology Department in Tamil Nadu General Subordinate Service. For master courses, students must have a bachelor’s degree in the related field like Archeology, Indian History Culture, anthropology, etc. For postgraduate diploma, students should have a master’s degree in Ancient/Medieval Indian History or Archaeology.

Related / Similar Syllabus : TNPSC Executive Officer Group -VII-A Exam Syllabus

Syllabus For TNPSC Post Of Archaeological Officer Exam

The Syllabus For TNPSC Post Of Archaeological Officer Exam are given below,

UNIT – I: CULTURAL HISTORY OF TAMIL NADU UPTO 1565 AD
Importance of Archaeology – Contributions during Sangam Age, Pallavas, Cholas, Cheras, Pandyas – Religion – Society – Material life – Monuments of Pallavas – Cholas – Pandyas – Vijayanagaras – Nayaks.

UNIT- II: HISTORY OF ARCHAEOLOGY
Definition – Development of Archaeology in India – 15th to 19th centuries – 20th century – Archaeological Theories – New Archaeology – Contributions of Alexander Cunningham – Robert Bruce Foote – Burgess – Lord Curzon – Mortimer Wheeler –
Relation between History & Archaeology, Geology & Archaeology, Anthropology & Archaeology – Contributions of Archaeological Survey of India,
State Department of Archaeology – University Departments : University of Madras & Tamil University.

UNIT – III: FIELD ARCHAEOLOGY
Exploration techniques – Exploration tools – Excavation methods – Horizontal & Vertical Excavations – Stratigraphical Analysis – Excavation equipments – Staffs – Documentation & Interpretation – Preparation of Excavation Report – Dating methods – Remote sensing in Archaeology – Digital Archaeology.

UNIT- IV: PRE AND PROTO HISTORY OF INDIA
History of Indian Prehistory – Relation between Prehistory & Geology – Lower,
Middle & Upper Palaeolithic periods – its distribution – Mesolithic period – its
distribution – Neolithic period – its distribution – Stone tool industries – its functions –
tool making technology – Chalcolithic culture – Harappan culture – OCP culture –
Painting grey ware – Iron Age culture – Burial types in South India– NBP ware
culture.

UNIT- V: EPIGRAPHY AND PALAEOGRAPHY
Importance of Epigraphy – Asokan Brahmi & Kharosti scripts – Asokan Edicts –
Development of Epigraphical studies in Tamil Nadu – Origin & Development of
Tamil-Brahmi & Vatteluttu – Recent developments in fixing chronology of Brahmi –
Detail Study of inscriptions at: Pullimankombai, Mangulam, Vikramangalam,
Velvikkudi & Leiden grants Copper plates, Uttiramerur – Hero stone inscriptions –
Irulapatti inscription – Inscribed sherds – Prasasti/Meykirti – Structure of an inscription.

UNIT- VI : NUMISMATICS
Importance of Numismatics – Punch marked coins – Tribal coins – Coins of Indo-
Greeks – Roman coins – Gupta coins – South Indian coinage – Sangam coinage –
Satavahana coins – Pallava coins – Chola coins – Pandya coins – Chalukya and
Rastrakuta coins – Hoysala coins – Vijayanagara coins – Symbols & Legends –
Techniques – Mints.

UNIT- VII: ART AND ARCHITECTURE
Harappan Art – Mauryan Art & Architecture – Stupa, Chaitya & Vihara
architecture – Art & Architecture of Deccan – Sathavahanas, Chalukyas,
Rastrakutas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagaras & Nayaks –Monolithic & Structural
temples of Tamil Nadu – Rock cuts of Early Pandyas & Pallavas – Sculptural art of
Pallavas, Early Pandyas & Cholas – Temples at Mamallapuram, Kanchipuram,
Nartanmalai, Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Vettuvankoil, Srirangam,
Madurai & Krishnapuram.

UNIT- VIII: ICONOGRAPHY AND PAINTING
Mudras – Asanas – Vahanas – Saiva Iconography – Vaishnava Iconography –
Iconography of Devis, Minor deities, Jaina & Buddhist iconography – Bronzes –
Ornaments – Pallava & Pandya paintings – Chola paintings – Vijaya Nagara
paintings – Nayaks paintings – Maratha paintings.

UNIT – IX: CONSERVATION AND MUSEOLOGY
Importance of conservation – Conservation of Organic & Inorganic materials –
Structural conservation – Archaeological code – Legal aspects relating to conservation
& preservation – Origin of Museums in India – Types of Museum – Role of National
Museum, State Museum, District Museum & Local Museum – Principles of Display –
Documentation – Museum Architecture – Museum administration & establishment.

UNIT- X: EARLY HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
Importance of early historical archaeology – Potteries of North India & South India
– Excavations at Kodumanal, Sanur, Mangudi, Azhagankulam, Arikamedu,
Kaveripumpattinam, Korkai, Uraiyur & Keeladi – Urbanisation during Sangam age
– Excavations at Kausambi, Sisupalgarh, Sravasti, Mathura, Taxila, Lothal and
Dolavira – Maritime trade with other countries.

INDIAN HISTORY (FROM ANCIENT TO MODERN PERIOD)

UNIT- I: ANTHROPOLOGICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
Races – Geographical diversity – Sources – Indigenous & foreign accounts –
Archaeological Discoveries of Early India – Palaeolithic & Neolithic sites in India –
Indus Valley culture – Emergence of urban civilization- Production & Exchange –
Trade – Decline of Harappan civilization – Rig Vedic Society- Expansion of agriculture –
Later Vedic Culture – Formation of States – The Rise of Mahajanapadas – New agnostic
faiths – Jainism & Buddhism – Principles – Spread – Decline.

UNIT – II: CONTACT WITH OUTSIDE WORLD
Invasions from Persia – Alexander of Macedonia – Mauryan Empire: Nature of polity,
society & economy – Implications of Ashoka’s Dhamma – Post Mauryan India – The
Age of Guptas – Issue of l& grants & the laws relating to l& – Genesis of caste
system – Satavahanas – Birth of Feudal Order – Harsha Vardhana – Administration
Religion Post Harsha Period – Rajputs – Origin – Politics & culture.

UNIT- III: ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL TAMIL NADU
Sangam Age: Political, social, economic & religious conditions – Kalabhras –
Significant contributions – The Pallavas – Pallava’s contribution to art & architecture –
Imperial Cholas – Village administration – Debates on Segmentry State.

UNIT- IV: THE DECCAN KINGDOMS
Bahmini Kingdom – Muhammed Gawan – Vijayanagara Empire – Krishna Deva Raya –
The decline of Vijayanagara – Battle of Talaikotta & its aftermath – Social, economic,
religious & cultural conditions of Vijayanagara period – Nayak rule in Tamil Nadu –
Politics & culture.

UNIT – V :THE MUGHAL EMPIRE
Babur – Humayun – Shershah,- Akbar – Jahangir – Shajahan – Aurangzeb – Mughal
administration – Religious policy – Contribution to literature, Music, Art and
architecture – Decline of Mughal Empire – Rise of the Marathas – Shivaji’s military
conquests & administration.

HISTORY (P.G. DEGREE STANDARD)

Section – A – India Through Ages

UNIT – I : INDIAN RACES AND GEOGRAPHY
Influence of geography on Indian History – Pluri-culturalism – Unity in Diversity – Sources
of Indian History – Beginning of historic period – Indus Valley Civilization – Area –
features – Rig Vedic & – Later Vedic cultures – Challenges to Vedic religion and
society – Rise of Jainism & Buddhism – Results.

UNIT- II: ANCIENT INDIAN POLITY (UP TO 7TH CENTURY AD)
Persian & Greek invasions – Impact – Age of ancient Indian empires – Rise of Magada
& The Mauryas – Asoka – His wars – Services to Buddhism – Deal of Kingship –
Mauryan administration & art – The Kushans in the north – west – Kanishka’s
achievements. The Guptas – Chandra Gupta I – Samudra Gupta – Chandra Gupta II –
Hindu revivalism -Popular devotion as an alternative to puritan faith – Religious Art –
Rigidity of Caste system – Accounts of Fahien.- The Vardhana Kingdom – Harsh
Vardhana as the last great ruler of ancient India

UNIT- III: ANCIENT AND PRE-MEDIEVAL TAMIL CULTURE
Sangam Age – Archaeological sites – Adicha Nallur – Pallavaram – Arikkamedu –
Keeladi – Sangam polity- The Kalabhras –The new findings on their importance – The
Pallavas – Politics – society & culture – Relations with neighbours – The first Pandyan
kingdom – The Greater Cholas & the Second Pandyan Kingdom – Their contribution
to religion, art & literature – Spread of Tamil culture abroad.

Syllabus : http://www.syllabus.gen.in/uploads/pdf2022/2701-syllabus.pdf

Section –B –World Through Ages
UNIT-VII : ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL WORLD
i) Ancient civilizations – Egypt – Mesopotamia – Classical cultures of Greece & Rome – Christianity – Principles & spread- Monasticism.
ii) Medieval World – Islam -Rise & escalation – Legacy – Medieval European culture – Towns ,guilds & Universities.

UNIT –VIII: PALAEOGRAPHY AND NUMISMATICS
Tamili (Tamil-Brahmi) & Asokan Brahmi – Vatteluttu – Tamil – Grantham – Nagari – Telugu – Evolution of Tamil, Vatteluttu & Grantha scripts – Tamil Coins – South Indian & North Indian coins.

UNIT – IX: PRE-HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY
Palaeolithic Period – Mesolithic Period – Neolithic Period – Megalithic Period – Rock Arts – Field Archaeology.

UNIT-X: ARCHAEOLOGICAL ACTS AND RULES
Tamil Nadu Ancient Monuments & Archaeological sites & Remains Act – 1966 and
Rules 1971 – Indian Treasure Trove Act 1878 – The Antiquities & Act Treasures Act 1972.