From the 1860s, substantial ruins in the Indian state of Bihar identified as Nalanda Mahavihara, were of scholarly interest because the monastery was mentioned in the travel accounts of seventh century Chinese monks. From 1916 until 1938, the Archaeological Survey of India systematically excavated, documented, illustrated, and gave continuity to the site. However, ASI 'historic' procedures were severely criticized in the 1940s. The ASI was reorganized and reoriented to 'modern scientific' methods.