From Chunar to Varanasi-Sarnath: Stone Art, Artisans and Workshops in the Sacred Landscapes of the Middle Ganga Plain

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. The Sculptural Wealth of Sarnath. 3. Ancient Stone Quarries of Chunar. 4. The Stone Carving Workshops of Varanasi–Sarnath. 5. Mundeshwari: Monument–Cum–Workshop Site. 6. The Artisans at Quarry and Workshop. Bibliography. Index.

From Chunar to Varanasi–Sarnath explores the remarkable stone-carving tradition of the Middle Ganga Plain – one of the great centres of sculptural art in ancient India. Drawing upon recent archaeological discoveries in the Chunar hills and the Vindhyan region, the book reconstructs the complete journey of sandstone: from quarry extraction to transportation, and finally to the chiselling of icons in major carving centres and shilpa-grams.

Rare signatures of quarrymen, inscriptions of artisans and patrons, and material evidence from workshop sites together illuminate the human network behind some of India's most celebrated masterpieces, including the Lion Capital (India's National Emblem) and the iconic Buddha images of Sarnath. By integrating new field data with earlier scholarship, the volume offers fresh perspectives on major questions – such as the making of Ashokan pillars, the evolution of carving styles, and the organisation and production capacity of sculptural workshops.

Scholarly yet accessible, this study will interest students of archaeology and art history, as well as all readers drawn to the material and artistic foundations of India's civilizational heritage.