The correct option is Alexander Cunningham.
Explanation
Early archaeological interpretations in India were often constrained by the prevailing belief that Indian history and urbanization began in the Ganga valley around the 6th century BCE. This chronological framework influenced how early discoveries were analyzed.
Historical Analysis
- Alexander Cunningham, the first Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), is often called the father of Indian archaeology.
- During his excavations at Harappa in the mid-19th century, he discovered Harappan seals.
- However, he attempted to place these artifacts within the context of the Early Historic period (c. 6th century BCE to 4th century CE).
- Because he assumed that Indian history began with the first cities in the Ganga valley, he failed to recognize that the seals belonged to a distinct, much older Bronze Age civilization.
- The significance of Harappa as a civilization older than the Vedic or Mauryan periods was only realized later, in the 1920s, under the directorship of John Marshall.
Key Takeaway
Alexander Cunningham found Harappan seals but failed to understand their significance because he interpreted them through the specific chronological lens of the Ganga valley urbanization.