Correct Option
The correct option is B.B. Lal.
Explanation
The excavation of Hastinapura was a significant archaeological project undertaken to establish the cultural sequence of the Upper Ganga-Yamuna Doab and to investigate the historical basis of the Mahabharata epic. The site revealed a continuous sequence of cultures ranging from the Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP) period to medieval times.
Detailed Analysis
- B.B. Lal (Correct): The excavation at Hastinapura (located in Meerut district, Uttar Pradesh) was carried out by B.B. Lal on behalf of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) during 1950-52. This excavation was pivotal in identifying the Painted Grey Ware (PGW) culture and correlating it with the Early Iron Age and the Mahabharata period. He also found evidence of a massive flood that destroyed the settlement, linking it to Puranic traditions regarding the shifting of the capital to Kaushambi.
- Alexander Cunningham: He was the first Director-General of the ASI, active in the mid-to-late 19th century, long before the 1951-52 excavations.
- R.D. Banerji: He is best known for the discovery of Mohenjo-daro in 1922.
- John Marshall: He was the Director-General of the ASI during the major discoveries of the Indus Valley Civilization in the 1920s.
Key Takeaway: B.B. Lal excavated Hastinapura in 1951-52, establishing the stratigraphic position of the Painted Grey Ware (PGW) culture between the OCP and NBPW periods.