UGC NET Archaeology: Syllabus, Exam Pattern & Sample Questions

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Are you searching for the syllabus of UGC NET Archaeology? Here you will get the latest syllabus for the National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) exam. It will surely help you in the effective preparation of NET Archaeology exam (Paper II, Paper III-A & Paper III-B). CBSE NET Archaeology exam will be conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The syllabus given below is based on the latest pattern of the University Grants Commission (UGC) - Archaeology curriculum. We suggest you to check our free online mock tests for UGC NET examinations.

We have listed some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs), asked by the UGC NET (Archaeology) candidates, so that they will get a basic idea of NET (Archaeology) exam pattern.

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UGC NET Archaeology Syllabus: Paper II & Paper III-A

  1. Unit - I
  2. Unit - II
  3. Unit - III
  4. Unit - IV
  5. Unit - V
  6. Unit - VI
  7. Unit - VII
  8. Unit - VIII
  9. Unit - IX
  10. Unit - X

UGC NET Archaeology Syllabus: Paper III (Part-B)

  1. Elective Paper - I
  2. Elective Paper - II
  3. Elective Paper - III
  4. Elective Paper - IV
  5. Elective Paper - V

UGC NET Archaeology (Paper II / Paper III-A): Detailed Syllabus

Given below is the list of unit wise syllabus for UGC NET (Archaeology) paper-II.

Unit - I

  • Definition, aim and Scope of Archaeology, History and Growth of Archaeology, History of Indian Archaeology.
  • Relationship of Archaeology with Social and Natural Sciences.
  • Retrieval of Archaeological Data : Techniques of Explorations and Excavations.
  • Aims and Methods of Conservation and preservation of Archaeological remains.
  • Recording and Preparation of Reports.

Unit - II

  • Chronology and Dating : Relative, Stratigraphy, Typology, Absolute, Carbon 14, Potassium Argon, Fission Track, Thermoluminescence, Dendrochronology, Pollen analysis, Varve clay analysis.
  • Others - methods : Flourine test, nitrogen and phosphate analysis, soil analysis.
  • Methods of Objective Interpretations : Ethno - archaeology, Experimental archaeology, Application of new archaeological methods in India.

Unit - III

  • Geological Biological and Cultural Dimension of Man.
  • Quaternary Period : Pleistocene and Holocene, Environment and Climatic Changes.
  • Pleistocene Flora and Fauna, Main Stages of Human Evolution and important fossil records.
  • Appearance of Stone Tools and Development of Technology : Main Techniques and Tools of Stone Age, Methods of study of prehistoric remains.

Unit - IV

  • Hunting - Gathering Stage : Palaeolithic in Africa, Europe and South - East Asia, Mesolithic in Europe and West Asia; Palaeolithic and Mesolithic remains and important sites of India.
  • Beginning of Food Production : Neolithic Stage in West Asia, Major neolithic cultures and important sites of India.

Unit - V

  • Pre and early Harappan Village Cultures of North and North - Western India.
  • Harappa Culture : Origin, extent, chronology, factors of urbanization, trade, script, religion, art and craft, factors for the decline.
  • Devaluation of Harappa Culture : Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.
  • Chalcolithic village communities of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
  • Copper using cultures of Gangetic plains.

Unit - VI

  • Early occurrence of iron : Chrono - Cultural Features.
  • Main Characteristics of the Cultures : Painted grey ware, Black slipped ware and Megalithic cultures.
  • Northern Black polished ware culture : Extent, chronology, characteristics traits.
  • Important city sites : Raj ghat, Ujjain, Vaisali, Taxila, Mathura, Sravasti, Kaushambi and Sishupalgarh.
  • Important sites of historical period : Sringverapur, Khairadih, Satanikota, Chandraketugarh, Nasik, Arikamedu and Adam.

Unit - VII

  • Architecture of Structural Stupas : North and South India.
  • Rock - cut Architecture : Monastries and Shrines.
  • Main styles of temples : Origin and development of temples, Main features and examples of Nagar, Vesara and Dravid styles.
  • Main Styles of Sculptural Art : Mauryan, Sunga, Kushana, Gupta, Satvahana, Chalukya, Pallava and Chola periods.

Unit - VIII

  • Origin and antiquity of coinage in India. Techniques of manufacturing coins.
  • Important Coins : Punch - marked coins, inscribed and uninscribed caste coins; Principal types of Indo - Greek coinage; Saka and Kushan coinage; Principal types of Gupta Gold coinage; Brief account of pre - Islamic Medieval Indian coinage.

Unit - IX

  • Origin and antiquity of writing in India : Origin of Brahmi and Kharasthi scripts, Study of some select inscriptions - Ashokan edicts, Besnagar Garuda pillar inscription; Hathigumpha inscription of Kharvela, Junagarh inscription of Rudradaman, Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta, Aihole pillar inscription of Pulakesin II and Gwalior inscription of Mihira Bhoja.

Unit - X

  • Proposed area of research; aims and objectives; proposed methodology; primary and secondary sources; review of previous researches in the proposed area, and likely contribution of the proposal.

UGC NET Archaeology (Paper III-B): Detailed Syllabus

Given below is the list of (Elective / Optional) unit wise syllabus for paper III (Part B).

Elective - I

  • Geo - Chronology and Stone Age Cultures of India : Sohan Valley; Belan Valley; Son Valley and Kortlayar Valley.
  • Palaeolithic Cultures of India : Sohan and Acheulian traditions; Middle Palaeolithic cultures; Upper Palaeolithic cultures; Habitation tendencies of the Palaeolithic period.
  • Patterns of Mesolithic Cultures of India : Characteristic features of alluvial plains; horse - shoe lake; sand - dune; plateau and rock shelter sites.
  • Neolithic Cultures of India : Early farming communities of Baluchistan and Kashmir, Vindhya - Belan region, Kaimur Foot hills and Ganga plains, Chota Nagpur plateau and the North - East, and Pastoral communities of Deccan and South.

Elective - II

  • Pre - Harappan Cultures of India and Border Lands : Salient features.
  • Harappa Culture : Origin, Geographical Distribution and Settlement Patterns, Town Planning and Architecture, Trade - Hinterland and Overseas, Arts and Crafts, Material Equipment, Subsistence Pattern, Socio - Political Organization, Religion and Authorship; important excavated sites, concepts of Sorath and Sindhi Harappans in Gujarat
  • Decline and Survival of Harappa Culture : Causes of de - urbanization, Late Harappa cultures of Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.
  • Other Copper using Cultures : Copper Hoards and Ochre Coloured pottery, Ahar, Kayatha, Malwa and Deccan Chalcolithic cultures, Cultures of Gangetic Plains.

Elective - III

  • Historical Urbanization : Northern Black polished Ware Culture, Extent, Chronology, Cultural traits.
  • Important City Sites : Rajghat, Ujjain, Vaishali, Taxila, Mathura, Sravasti, Kaushambi, Sishupalgarh, Satanikota.
  • Growth of urban settlements during Kushan Period : Plan and Expansion of Settlements and growth of trade centres; Main features of material culture.
  • Excavated remains of Gupta and Early Medieval Periods : Nature of settlements and main features of material culture.

Elective - IV

Architecture :

  • Structural features of ancient fortified settlements.
  • Origin and evolution of Stupa architecture: Sanchi, Bharhut, Amaravati and Nagarjuna Konda.
  • Development of Rock - cut Architecture : Chaityas and Viharas.
  • Origin and evolution of temples; Gupta temples; Chalukyan temples; Pallava rathas and temples; Khajuraho temples; temples of Orissa and Chola temples.

Sculpture :

  • Mauryan Capital figures; Early Yaksha Statue; Sunga Sculptures; Kaushana sculptures : Mathura and Gandhara schools; Gupta Sculptures: Sarnath School; Sculptures of Chalukyas; Pallavas; Palas; Chola and Chandellas.

Paintings :

  • Rock - cut Cave Paintings of Ajanta and Bagh.

Elective - V

Epigraphy

  • Epigraphy as a source of history, Origin of Indian Scripts : Different theories Study of select Epigraphs : Asokan Edicts; Rock Edicts X, XII, XIII; Lumbini inscriptions of Asoka; Minar Rock Edict of Bairat, Besnagar Garud Pillar inscription; Hathigumpha inscription of Kharvela; Junagarh inscription of Rudradaman; Swat Relic casket inscription; Sarnath Buddha image inscription of the time of Kanishka I.
  • Lucknow Museum Jain image inscription of the time of Huvishka ( 126 AD ); Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta; Aihole pillar inscription of Pulakesin II; Gwalior inscriptions of Mihira Bhoja; Tanjavaur inscription of Rajendra Chola and Sangli Copper plate of Govinda IV ( Swarn Varsha ).

Numismatics

  • Origin and antiquity of coinage in ancient India. Metal and techniques used for coins.

Main Coin Types :

  • Punch - marked Coins; inscribed and Uninscribed caste coins; Principal types of Indo - Greek Coinage; Coins of Saka, Kushan and Satvahana; Principal types of Gupta Gold coins; Roman coins; and brief account of pre - Islamic Medieval Indian coinage.

UGC NET Archaeology: Exam Pattern (FAQs)

Is it mandatory to qualify UGC General Paper-1?
Yes, it is necessary for all UGC (Archaeology) candidates to pass UGC General Paper-1: Teaching & Research Aptitude (TRA) exam
How many question papers are there in the UGC NET (Archaeology) exam?
Two: Paper II and Paper III
How many questions will be their in NET Archaeology (Paper II)?
Their will be a total of 50 questions in UGC Archaeology Paper II
What type of questions are asked in UGC Archaeology exam?
Paper-II contains questions of objective nature: MCQs; Matching type; Assertion-Reasoning; True / False. Paper-III (Part A): Essay type questions. Paper III (Part B): Essay type questions from each of the electives

UGC NET Archaeology - Paper II: Sample Questions

(1) The site of olduvai gorge was excavated by

  1. Clark howell
  2. JD clark
  3. L buford
  4. LSB leakey

(2) Lapiy-layuli mines are located at

  1. Sahyadri Hills
  2. Badakhan Hills
  3. Shivaliks
  4. Satpura

(3) The book pre-history and post-history in India and Pakistan is authored by

  1. HD saukaliya
  2. B. Allchin
  3. BK Thapar
  4. B Subbarao

UGC NET Archaeology - Paper III (Part A): Sample Questions

  1. Bring out the characteristics of the early tirthankara images.
  2. Write a critical note on the Chandragupta Kumar Devi type of Gupta Gold coins.

UGC NET Archaeology - Paper III (Part B): Sample Questions

  1. Trace the development of the stupa architecture in India.
  2. Reconstruct the history of pratiharas on the basis of Gwalior inscription of Mihira Bhoja.

Note You can easily download UGC NET (Archaeology) syllabus in PDF format form the official website of the University Grants Commission (UGC) by simply clicking on the subject (Archaeology) link on the UGC syllabus page.