Archaeological Museum, Sarnath is the oldest site museum of the Archaeological survey of India. In order to preserve and display the antiquities found from the site during the excavations, an onsite museum was constructed adjacent to the excavated area at Sarnath initiated by Sir John Marshall, the plans were drawn by Mr James Ransome, to display and study the antiquities in their right perspective The Building forms half of a monastery in Plan. There are five galleries and two verandah in the museums that display the antiquities ranging in time from third century B.C to twelfth century A.D found at Sarnath. The museum preserves a large number of sculptures, artifacts, statues of Goddess Tara, Bodhisattva and the iconic Ashoka Lion Capital also known as the 'National Emblem of India'.