Difference between archaeological and literary sources.

There are two main sources which help in rewriting writing: Archaeological and Literary.

Archaeological:

These include ancient ruins, remains and monuments, inscriptions and numismatics. There are numerous excavations of temples, monasteries, forts, palaces, etc which help in knowing about the time. The inscriptions tell us about the rulers of the time and their works. The earliest Indian inscriptions are of the Indus Valley Civilisation and the most famous are of Ashoka. Many times, coins contain the date of its use and about the ruler who issued it. They are also a great source of knowledge about the metals used during the time.

Literary:

Literary sources include manuscripts, religious scriptures, accounts of foreigners, etc. Religious literature like Ramayana and Mahabharata and the Puranas of the Hindus help in knowing about the religious beliefs, social systems, customs, political institutions, and culture. Similarly, the accounts of travellers tell a lot about the social structure of the time.