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Maj-Gen Sir Alexander Cunningham

Also known as: Maj-Gen Sir Alexander Cunningham; primary name: Cunningham, Alexander
Details: individual; archaeologist; academic/intellectual; military/naval; scientist/engineer; British; Male
Life dates: 1814-1894
Biography: Archaeologist, numismatist, engineer. He went to India in 1833 as an officer of the Bengal Engineers Regiment (1831-61); after retiring from the army, he became the first Archaeological Surveyor for the Government of India (1861-65); later Director General of the newly created Archaeological Survey of India (1871-85). During this time he produced the first extensive archaeological survey of India, exploring up to 30 sites a season. His work on coins provided a chronological framework for Indian numismatics. He was awarded the C.S.I. (1871); C.I.E. (1878); K.C.I.E. (1887). He sold 118 coins to the Museum in 1857 for £83. In 1888, 1893 and 1894, the British Museum purchased a large part of the Cunningham collection of Bactrian and Indian coins. The Museum also received his collection of sculpture and other antiquities (1887). His grave is in the Kensal Green Cemetery, London.
Bibliography: John Allan, 'Guide to the Department of Coins and Medals', British Museum, London 1934. Obituary in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 1894, Jan, pp. 166-77.

3,326 related objects

aigrette

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 123924 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

animal remains

Museum number: 1892,1103.74.a-g |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mahabodhi Temple (Bodh Gaya)

animal remains; sample

Museum number: 1892,1103.70.a-b |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mahabodhi Temple (Bodh Gaya)

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124036 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet; torc

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124041 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124034 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124031 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet; torc

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124018 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124039 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124040 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124017 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124020 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124047 |
Cultures/periods: x14489 Scythian |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet; torc

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124019 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet; torc

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124035 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124038 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124045 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124044 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124032 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124043 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet; torc

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124024 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124029 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124026 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet; torc

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124027 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124021 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124028 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124033 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124030 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124048 |
Cultures/periods: AchaemenidScythian |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124025 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124022 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124037 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

armlet; torc

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124042 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

arrow-head

Museum number: 1887,0717.209 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 6thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Sistan (town)

arrow-head

Museum number: 1887,0717.207 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Sistan (town)

arrow-head

Museum number: 1887,0717.210 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 6thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Sistan (town)

arrow-head

Museum number: 1887,0717.208 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Sistan (town)

artefact

Museum number: 1887,0717.144 |
Cultures/periods: x23042 Early Historic |
Production date: 3rdC BC-2ndC |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Bodhgayā

artefact

Museum number: 1892,1103.37 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Vajrasana Throne deposit

artefact

Museum number: 1887,0717.201 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Sankisa

artefact

Museum number: 1887,0717.145.a-t |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Bodhgayā

artefact

Museum number: 1892,1110.2 |
Production date: 17thC-18thC |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Thailand

axe

Museum number: 1887,0717.235 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kaimur Range

axe

Museum number: 1887,0717.225 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kaimur Range

axe

Museum number: 1887,0717.274 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:India

bead

Museum number: 1892,1103.67.a-b |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Vajrasana Throne deposit

bead

Museum number: 1887,0717.27.l |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Jaulian

bead

Museum number: 1892,1103.69 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Vajrasana Throne deposit

bead

Museum number: 1887,0717.33.c |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Baoti Pind

bead

Museum number: 1887,0717.142 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Bodhgayā

bead

Museum number: 1887,0717.27.i-k |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Jaulian

bead

Museum number: 1887,0717.27.b-h |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Jaulian

bead

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124068 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

bead

Museum number: 1887,0717.27.a |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Jaulian

bead

Museum number: 1892,1103.31 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mahabodhi Temple (Bodh Gaya)

bead

Museum number: 1887,0717.143.a-c |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Bodhgayā

bead

Museum number: 1887,0717.25 |
Production date: 2ndC-3rdC |
Production place: Made in:Pakistan |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Jaulian

bead

Museum number: 1892,1103.71 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Vajrasana Throne deposit

bead

Museum number: 1892,1103.39 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mahabodhi Temple (Bodh Gaya)

bead

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124067 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

bead

Museum number: 1892,1103.38 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mahabodhi Temple (Bodh Gaya)

bezel

Museum number: 119352 |
Cultures/periods: x13816 Early Sasanian |
Production date: 388-399 |
Production place: Made in:Asia

bezel

Museum number: 1892,1103.145 |
Production date: 1stC-5thC |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:India

blade

Museum number: 1887,0717.285 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kaimur Range

blade

Museum number: 1887,0717.333 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kaimur Range

block

Museum number: 1880.3535 |
Production date: 713-714 770 |
Production place: Made in:India |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Vidisha

block

Museum number: 1887,0717.53 |
Production date: 137 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mathura

boss

Museum number: 1892,1103.34 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Vajrasana Throne deposit

boss; fitting

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 123944 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

bottle

Museum number: 1887,0717.189 |
Cultures/periods: x13712 Bronze Age |
Production date: 2000BC |
Production place: Made in:Iran, East |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Sankisa

bowl

Museum number: 1887,0717.32 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Jaulian

bowl

Museum number: 1887,0717.174 |
Production date: 3rdC BC-2ndC |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:India

bowl

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 123919 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

bowl

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 123921 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

bowl

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 123922 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

box

Museum number: 1887,0717.31 |
Production place: Made in:Gandhara (Pakistan) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Jaulian

box

Museum number: 1887,0717.41 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Manikyala

box; block

Museum number: 1887,0717.1 |
Production date: 2ndC BC |
Production place: Made in:Sanchi |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Sanchi

box; lid

Museum number: As1894,0727.60 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Asia

bracelet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124023 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

bracelet

Title: Oxus Treasure |
Museum number: 124046 |
Cultures/periods: x13574 Achaemenid |
Production date: 5thC BC-4thC BC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Takht-i Kuwad

brick

Museum number: 1887,0717.56 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Sankisa

brooch

Museum number: As1894,-.400 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Tibet

brooch

Museum number: As1894,-.401 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Tibet

button

Museum number: 1892,1103.155 |
Production date: 19thC |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:India

button

Museum number: 1892,1103.23.a-e |
Production date: 2ndC |
Production place: Made in:Bihar (State) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mahabodhi Temple (Bodh Gaya)

celt

Museum number: 1887,0717.205 |
Cultures/periods: x14337 Neolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Ajaygarh

celt

Museum number: 1892,1103.89 |
Cultures/periods: x23024 Copper Hoard |
Production date: 2000BC-1000BC |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kausambi

celt

Museum number: 1887,0717.268 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kaimur Range

celt

Museum number: 1887,0717.244 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kaimur Range

celt

Museum number: 1887,0717.220 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kaimur Range

celt

Museum number: 1887,0717.287 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kaimur Range

celt

Museum number: 1887,0717.265 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kaimur Range

celt

Museum number: 1887,0717.217 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kaimur Range

celt

Museum number: 1887,0717.245 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kaimur Range

celt

Museum number: 1887,0717.267 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kaimur Range

celt

Museum number: 1887,0717.247 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kaimur Range

celt

Museum number: 1887,0717.243 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kaimur Range

celt

Museum number: 1887,0717.233 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kaimur Range

celt

Museum number: 1887,0717.263 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kaimur Range