Indian Concepts of Time and Archaeology
Summary
R. N. Mehta’s essay argues that archaeologists should consider indigenous Indian conceptions of time when interpreting material remains. He outlines three basic notions—linear, cyclical and relative—and notes that Indian cosmology emphasises cyclical time, where epochs repeat through creation, preservation and dissolution. Mehta discusses Purāṇic time scales and relative time in Buddhist and Jain traditions. He suggests that cyclic models influenced practices such as the periodic rebuilding of temples and the stratified occupation of urban sites. The article examines how regional calendars affect the dating of inscriptions and emphasises that artefacts like foundation deposits reflect beliefs in renewal. Mehta cautions against imposing Western linear models on Indian archaeology and urges scholars to integrate stratigraphy with cosmological narratives to reconstruct site histories more accurately.
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Conclusion
Mehta concludes that cultural ideas about time shape material practices. Recognising Indian traditions of cyclic, linear and relative time helps archaeologists interpret stratigraphic layers, architectural renewal and calendrical data. Integrating cosmology into archaeological analysis enriches our understanding of the temporal dimensions of India’s past.