Dear Arlo,

according to Salomon (Indian Epigraphy, 1998, p. 200), «the first publication of an old Indian inscription was by the "Sanskrit-mad" (Sir) Charles Wilkins» in 1781 (or 1785).

Hope this helps,

Marco 
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Marco Franceschini
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Ricercatore a tempo determinato
Università di Bologna
Dipartimento Storia Culture Civiltà
via Zamboni 33 - 40126 Bologna
marco.franceschini3@unibo.it
www.unibo.it/sitoweb/marco.franceschini3
www.associazioneitalianadistudisanscriti.org
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Il giorno 14 feb 2019, alle ore 07:22, Arlo Griffiths via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info> ha scritto:

Dear colleagues,

Does anyhow know a modern scholarly publication of a Sanskrit inscription older than the one that can be found here in the following?

John Crawfurd, An Inscription from the Kawi or Ancient Javanese Language, Verhandelingen van het Bataviaasch Genootschap der Kunsten en Wetenschappen 8, 1816, Batavia: Government Press.

The volume of the Verhandelingen in question can be found on archive.org. The title is misleading, and the decipherment utterly unreliable, but the transcription clearly reflects the Sanskrit-text of the 'Calcutta Stone' (https://iias.asia/the-newsletter/article/kolkata-calcutta-stone-bicentennial-british-interregnum-java-1811-1816). It occurred to me recently that this publication might mark the beginning of Sanskrit epigraphy as a modern scholarly enterprise. But perhaps there is competition from publications by British officers who were posted in India proper rather than in 'Farther India'. Please enlighten me.

Best wishes,

Arlo Griffiths



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