What did Cole believe about the preservation of ancient art?

1) It should be taken to distant museums
2) It should be buried underground
3) It should remain in its original location
4) It should be sold to collectors

Choose the correct answer from the given options:

3

Diverging from the common viewpoint, an archaeologist by the name of H.H. Cole held a distinct stance. He expressed, "Allowing the country to be stripped of original ancient artworks appears to be a self-destructive and indefensible approach." According to him, museums should house plaster-cast replicas of sculptures, with the genuine artifacts remaining in their original discovery locations. Regrettably, Cole's efforts to convince the authorities of Amaravati's significance and the importance of in situ preservation weren't successful. However, his plea was heeded in the case of Sanchi.

Why did Sanchi's fate differ from Amaravati's? It's possible that Amaravati was found before scholars recognized the value of the discoveries and the necessity of safeguarding them in their original context. The idea of keeping artifacts on-site rather than moving them gained acceptance later. In the case of Sanchi, its "discovery" in 1818 occurred with three out of four gateways intact, and even the fallen fourth gateway remained in place. Despite proposals to transport a gateway to Paris or London, Sanchi's preservation prevailed due to various factors. As a result, Sanchi stands today while the once magnificent mahachaitya at Amaravati is reduced to an inconspicuous mound, stripped of its former grandeur.