The correct option is 2 only
Explanation
The reconstruction of the history of the Vijayanagara Empire, particularly its capital Hampi, relies on a combination of archaeological findings, oral traditions, and literary sources. The rediscovery of the ruins in the colonial period marked the beginning of modern historical analysis of the site.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: The ruins at Hampi were brought to light in 1800 by Colonel Colin Mackenzie. An engineer and antiquarian, Mackenzie was an employee of the English East India Company who later became the first Surveyor General of India. He prepared the first survey map of the site.
- Statement 2 is Correct: Mackenzie’s initial information was not based exclusively on written records. Instead, it was primarily based on the memories of priests of the Virupaksha temple and the shrine of Pampadevi. He pieced together the history using these oral traditions alongside his surveys.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: The collection of inscriptions did not wait until 1947. Epigraphists began collecting inscriptions at Hampi and other temples in the region as early as 1836. By 1856, photographers began recording the monuments, and scholars collated information from foreign travellers' accounts and vernacular literature throughout the 19th century.
Key Takeaway:
Colonel Colin Mackenzie rediscovered Hampi in 1800, relying heavily on the oral traditions and memories of local priests for his initial surveys. Systematic epigraphic and photographic documentation began in the mid-19th century, long before Indian independence.