Introduction:-Writing is one .of the main aspects of culture which clearly distinguishes mankind from the animal world and the study of ancient inscriptions thus plays an important role for the study of human civilization. To a student of history a thorough acquaintance with various alphabets in use through ages is of great importance. A good deal of information which we now possess are derived through the study of inscriptions. They provide us with several important details relating to literary, religious, political, economic and cultural history of the land.
The early history of Odisha is one of the most glorious chapters of ancient Indian History and the contribution of ancient Odisha to Indian civilisation is considerably remarkable.

The earliest epigraphic records discovered in Odisha are those belonging to the time of Maurya Emperor Asoka. Numerous inscriptions on rocks, stone slabs, stone and metal images, temple walls, seals and copper plates, etc., belonging to the period from the middle of the 3rd century B.C. up to the 18th century A.D. have been found in different parts of Orissa. It must however, be pointed out that as the history of Odisha is often intimately associated with those other parts of India many inscriptions discovered outside the limits of the present State of Odisha also throw welcome light on some important problem of her history and culture.

The present Epigraphy gallery of the Odisha State Museum has been organised with a view to acquainting the scholars and common visitors with the earlier pattern of writings on different media following different dialects and languages. The copper plate grants in original a few stone inscriptions and a good number of plaster cast impressions and estampages of the originals find place along with other things. A broad chart show¬ing the development of Oriya scripts through ages has been displayed in the gallery for information of visitors. The section at present possesses as many as 87 Copper plate grants, 22 stone inscriptions and a large number of plaster cast impressions and estampages of original inscriptions including the famous Chandrika Devi inscription of Bhubaneswar. The inscriptions broadly throw light on the ruling families of the Eastern Gangas, Matharas, Nagavamsis, Sailodbhavas, Bhaumakaras Somavamsis, Imperial Gangas, Suryavamsi, Gajapatis and on a number of minor dynasties such as Sulkis, Tungas, Nandodbhavas, Bhanjas etc.