| Manuscript | Inscription | |
| Characteristic | It is handwritten records of the past. | It is not written but engraved records of the past. |
| Material | It is written on the surfaces of palm leaves, the bark of birch tree, vellum, papyrus, parchment, etc. | It is engraved record of kings and important events on surfaces like rocks, stones, walls of caves, pillars etc. |