One can hardly deny the importance of epigraphy as a source for the reconstruction of the ancient Indian history. Inscriptions are generally engraved on rocks, pillars, cave-walls, etc.
Besides, the copper-plates also fall in this category. Much of the historical facts are known from the documents engraved on different materials.
For example, Samudragupta’s conquests have been known from the ‘Allahabad Prasasti’. Again, the very name of the Mauryan kin: Asoka is known from an inscription inscribed by him.
Epigraphy is also an important source of knowledge regarding the development of scripts and languages.