John Hubert Marshall, one of the acknowledged figures of South Asian archaeology, presents a strange enigma. Few dispute the fact that his tenure as the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India from 1902 till 1928 created a new chapter in conservation, exploration and excavation that included, among other things, the discovery and opening out of the Indus Civilization for students of the Indian past. Yet that remarkable man, just short of turning 26 years of age when he assumed charge in February 1902, has remained a shadowy figure in many ways. No biography of him has been written to date, and even elementary details pertaining to his education and field experience prior to his Indian years are not available.
My purpose in writing this essay is to share with fellow scholars a few documents which may help in chasing away some of these shadows. The material, as frequently happens, I came by accidentally and it emanates from the Government of India files that contain the proceedings of the Departments of Revenue & Agriculture and Revenue & Statistics. The documents are scattered and unsatisfactory in many ways, but viewed in a larger perspective, their details help to bring us closer to the young John Marshall and clarify the events and circumstances which led to his selection.