Chapter - 1 (Bricks, Beads and Bones) (Date : 23-04-2022)

Question 1:

Consider the following Sites of Indus Valley Civilisation:

Kalibangan
Ropar
Sutkagen-Dor
Kot Diji

Arrange the above sites in the correct order from west to east?

4-3-2-1
2-3-4-1
3-4-1-2
2-3-1-4

Correct Answer : C

Explanation

Hence, option C is correct.

Question 2:

Consider the following statements:

The Mature Harappan Phase of the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) lasted from 1900 to 1300 BCE.
The distinctive objects from Harappan culture such as seals and weights have been found from present day areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The grains found from the IVC sites mainly include wheat and barley and rice was relatively rare.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 2 only
1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer : B

Explanation

The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) is also called the Harappan culture. Archaeologists use the term “culture” for a group of objects, distinctive in style, that are usually found together within a specific geographical area and period of time.
In the case of the Harappan culture, these distinctive objects include seals, beads, weights, stone blades and even baked bricks.
- These objects were found from areas as far apart as Afghanistan, Jammu, Balochistan (Pakistan) and Gujarat. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
The IVC is often separated into three phases: the Early Harappan Phase from 3300 to 2600 BCE, the Mature Harappan Phase from 2600 to 1900 BCE, and the Late Harappan Phase from 1900 to 1300 BCE. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
- The Harappan civilisation is sometimes called the Mature Harappan culture to distinguish it from the Early and Late Harappan Phases.
The Mature Harappan culture developed in some of the areas occupied by the Early Harappan cultures.
- These cultures also shared certain common elements including subsistence strategies. The Harappans ate a wide range of plant and animal products, including fish.
- Archaeologists have been able to reconstruct dietary practices from finds of charred grains and seeds. These are studied by archaeo-botanists, who are specialists in ancient plant remains.
- Grains found at Harappan sites include wheat, barley, lentil, chickpea and sesame. Millets are found from sites in Gujarat. Finds of rice are relatively rare. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Question 3:

Consider the following statements:

At Mohenjo-daro the entire settlement was fortified, and sections within the town were also separated by walls.
Sun dried/baked bricks of standardised ratio were used at all the Harappan settlements.
In the lower towns of the Harappan cities, the roads and streets were laid out along an approximate “grid” pattern, intersecting at right angles.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 and 3 only
2 and 3 only
3 only
1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer : B

Explanation

Mohenjodaro is the most well-known site of the Harappan Civilisation. The settlement is divided into two sections, one smaller but higher and the other much larger but lower. Archaeologists designate these as the Citadel and the Lower Town respectively.
- The Citadel as well as the Lower Town were walled; physically separated from each other but the entire settlement was not fortified. Its buildings were constructed on mud brick platforms.
At sites such as Dholavira and Lothal (Gujarat), the entire settlement was fortified, and sections within the town were also separated by walls. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
Several buildings were built on platforms, which served as foundations. The settlement was first planned and then implemented accordingly.
- Other signs of planning include bricks, which, whether sun-dried or baked, were of a standardised ratio, where the length and breadth were four times and twice the height respectively. Such bricks were used at all Harappan settlements. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
One of the most distinctive features of Harappan cities was the carefully planned drainage system. In the Lower Town, the roads and streets were laid out along an approximate “grid” pattern, intersecting at right angles. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Question 4:

In the context of the Indus Valley Civilisation, what is the significance of Chert?

Exchanges regulated by a precise system of weights were usually made of chert.
Seals and sealings to facilitate long distance communication were made with chert.
Most of the short inscriptions were written on chert.
Chert was a material made of ground sand or silica mixed with colour and a gum and then fired to make little pots.

Correct Answer : A

Explanation

Exchanges were regulated by a precise system of weights, usually made of a stone called Chert and generally cubicles with no markings. The lower denominations of weights were binary (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, etc. up to 12,800), while the higher denominations followed the decimal system. The smaller weights were probably used for weighing jewellery and beads.
The little pots were made of faience - a material made of ground sand or silica mixed with colour and a gum and then fired. They were probably considered precious because they were difficult to make.
The Harappan seal, possibly the most distinctive artefact of the Harappan or Indus valley civilisation, was made of a stone called steatite. Such seals often contain animal motifs and signs from a script that remains undeciphered.
Hence, option A is correct.

Question 5:

Which of the following is/are the contributions of John Marshall?

He is known as the Father of Indian Archaeology.
He introduced the discovery of a new civilisation in the Indus valley that was contemporaneous with Mesopotamia.
He introduced a military precision to the practice of archaeology and highlighted the necessity to follow the stratigraphy of the mound while excavating a site.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1 and 3 only
2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer : B

Explanation

Alexander Cunningham was the first Director-General of the ASI, often called the Father of Indian Archaeology. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
- He began archaeological excavations in the mid nineteenth century and his main interest was in the archaeology of the Early Historic (c. sixth century BCE-fourth century CE) and later periods.
In 1924, John Marshall, Director-General of the ASI, announced the discovery of a new civilisation in the Indus valley to the world that was contemporaneous with Mesopotamia. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
- John Marshall’s stint as Director-General of the ASI marked a major change in Indian archaeology. He was the first professional archaeologist to work in India, and brought his experience of working in Greece and Crete to the field.
- Marshall tended to excavate along regular horizontal units, measured uniformly throughout the mound, ignoring the stratigraphy of the site.
  - This meant that all the artefacts recovered from the same unit were grouped together, even if they were found at different stratigraphic layers. As a result, valuable information about the context of these finds was irretrievably lost.
It was R.E.M. Wheeler, after he took over as DirectorGeneral of the ASI in 1944, who rectified this problem. Wheeler recognised that it was necessary to follow the stratigraphy of the mound rather than dig mechanically along uniform horizontal lines. Moreover, as an ex-army brigadier, he brought with him a military precision to the practice of archaeology. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Question 6:

Consider the major development in the Harappan Archaeology:

Excavation of Dholavira by R.S. Bisht
Excavations at Harappa by R.E.M. Wheeler
Beginning of excavations at Mohenjo-daro
Report of Alexander Cunningham on Harappan Seal

Which of the following is the correct chronological sequence of the above events?

4-3-2-1
2-3-4-1
3-4-1-2
2-3-1-4

Correct Answer : A

Explanation

Major Developments in Harappan Archaeology
Nineteenth Century
1875	Report of Alexander Cunningham on Harappan Seal
Twentieth Century
1921	M.S. Vats begins excavations at Harappa
1925	Excavations begin at Mohenjo-Daro
1946	R.E.M. Wheeler excavates at Harappa
1955	S.R. Rao begins excavations at Lothal
1960	B.B. Lal and B.K. Thapar bein excavations at Kalibangan
1974	M.R. Mughal begins explorations in Bahawalpur
1980	A team of German and Italian archaeologists begins surface explorations at Mohenjo-Daro
1986	American team begins excavations at Harappa
1990	R.S. Bisht begins excavations at Dholavira

Hence, option A is correct.

Question 7:

Consider the following pairs:

	Raw Materials	Regions from where these materials were procured (during Harappan Civilisation)
1.	Copper	South India
2.	Gold	Khetri region (Rajasthan)
3.	Shells	Balakot
4.	Lapis lazuli	Afghanistan

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
3 and 4 only
1 and 4 only

Correct Answer : C

Explanation

The Harappans procured materials for craft production in various ways. For instance, they established settlements such as Nageshwar and Balakot in areas where shells were available. Hence, Pair 3 is correctly matched.
- Other such sites were Shortughai, in far-off Afghanistan, near the best source of lapis lazuli, a blue stone that was apparently very highly valued, and Lothal which was near sources of carnelian (from Bharuch in Gujarat), steatite (from south Rajasthan and north Gujarat) and metal (from Rajasthan). Hence, Pair 4 is correctly matched.
Another strategy for procuring raw materials may have been to send expeditions to areas such as the Khetri region of Rajasthan (for copper) and south India (for gold). Hence, Pair 1 and Pair 2 are not correctly matched.
- These expeditions established communication with local communities. Occasional finds of Harappan artefacts such as steatite microbeads in these areas are indications of such contact.
Hence, option C is correct.