Test: Indus Valley Civilisation - UPSC MCQ

Statement-I correctly describes the location of Ropar near the confluence of Sutlej, east of Bara. Statement-II also accurately states that Dholavira is one of the largest Harappan settlements in India. However, there is no direct correlation or explanation provided between the two statements . Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

- Statement 1 is correct: The Chinese civilization indeed emerged around the Hwang Ho (Yellow) river basin. This region is recognized as the cradle of Chinese civilization.

- Statement 2 is incorrect: The Mesoamerican civilization developed in Central Mexico and nearby regions, not in the region of modern-day Iraq and Syria. The region of Iraq and Syria is associated with the Mesopotamian civilization.

- Statement 3 is correct: The Indus Valley Civilization is noted for having the largest geographical extent among ancient civilizations, spanning across what is today Pakistan and northwest India.

Thus, the correct statements are 1 and 3. Therefore, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

• Lothal was one of the southernmost cities of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, located in the Bhāl region of the modern state of Gujarāt. Construction of the city began around 2200 BCE.

• Discovered in 1954, Lothal was excavated from 13 February 1955 to 19 May 1960 by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the official Indian government agency for the preservation of ancient monuments.

• According to the ASI, Lothal had the world's earliest known dock, which connected the city to an ancient course of the Sabarmati river on the trade route between Harappan cities in Sindh and the peninsula of Saurashtra when the surrounding Kutch desert of today was a part of the Arabian Sea.

1. Harappa - Located on the river Ravi - This pair is correctly matched. Harappa is situated on the river Ravi.

2. Mohenjo-Daro - Known for the Seal of Pashupati - This pair is correctly matched. The Seal of Pashupati was found in Mohenjo-Daro.

3. Kalibangan - Houses had wells - This pair is correctly matched. Archaeological excavations at Indus Valley sites show that houses had wells in Kalibangan.

4. Lothal - Known for the Great Bath - This pair is incorrectly matched. The Great Bath is associated with Mohenjo-Daro, not Lothal. Lothal is known for its dockyard.

Hence, three pairs are correctly matched.

Sutkagendor, located in the Makran district of Balochistan, Pakistan, was a significant site of the Indus Valley Civilization. The excavations at Sutkagendor led to the discovery of stone vessels, pottery, shell beads, and clay bangles, providing valuable insights into the material culture and craftsmanship of the ancient inhabitants. This site's strategic position along the trade route from Lothal to Mesopotamia further underscores its importance in facilitating economic and cultural exchanges during that period.

1. Lothal: Chess game - Correct. Chess game pieces have been found at Lothal.
2. Harappa: Two rows of six Granaries - Correct. Harappa is known for its granaries, which include two rows of six granaries.
3. Kalibangan: Fire altars - Correct. Fire altars have been discovered at Kalibangan, suggesting ritual practices.
4. Kot Diji: Mesopotamian seal made of ivory - Incorrect. The Mesopotamian seal made of ivory was found at Lothal, not Kot Diji. Kot Diji is known for its defensive wall, well-aligned streets, and other artifacts.
Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

1. Amri - Situated near Gunthali in Nakhatrana taluka of Bhuj district (Gujarat):

- Incorrect. Amri is situated south of Mohenjo-daro in Pakistan.

2. Balakot - Discovered by Robert Raikes:

- Correct. Robert Raikes discovered the small site of Balakot in 1959-1960.

3. Desalpur - Situated south of Mohenjo-daro:

- Incorrect. Desalpur is situated near Gunthali in Nakhatrana taluka of Bhuj district (Gujarat).

4. Amri - Knowledge of metal working, use of wheel pottery with animal figures painted on it:

- Correct. Amri is known for its knowledge of metal working and use of wheel pottery with animal figures painted on it.

Pairs correctly matched: 2 (Pairs 2 and 4)

The correct option is B: Only two pairs.

Statement-I correctly describes Chanhudaro as the Lancashire of ancient India and mentions the absence of a citadel. Statement-II accurately portrays Banawali as a well-structured fort town with a defensive wall. However, there is no direct connection or explanation provided between Chanhudaro and Banawali in these statements, making option (b) the correct answer.

1. Statement 1: Correct. The site of Ropar was indeed discovered by Y. D. Sharma in 1953. This fact is well-documented in the history of archaeological discoveries in India.

2. Statement 2: Correct. Dholavira is recognized as one of the two largest Harappan settlements in India, with the other being Rakhigarhi in Haryana. This highlights the significance of Dholavira in the context of Harappan civilization studies.

3. Statement 3: Correct. The excavations at Dholavira revealed a unique city structure divided into three principal divisions, two of which were fortified. This distinctive layout differentiates Dholavira from other Harappan sites, which were typically divided into two parts: the Citadel and the Lower Town.

All three statements are accurate based on the provided information, making Option D the correct answer.

To determine the correctness of the statements, let's evaluate each one individually:

**Statement-I:**
Kalibangan is situated on the ancient Sarasvati, now called Ghaggar in Rajasthan. Since the Harappan city overlies the earlier proto-Harappan, clear house plans of the earlier city are not available.
- This statement is correct. Kalibangan is indeed located on the banks of the Ghaggar River, which is believed to be the ancient Sarasvati River. The site contains both Harappan and pre-Harappan (proto-Harappan) layers, with the Harappan settlement overlying the earlier one, leading to unclear house plans of the earlier city.

**Statement-II:**
Lothal is situated on the bank of Bhogavar. Only at Lothal and Rangpur, rice husk has been found.
- This statement is correct. Lothal is actually situated on the banks of the Bhogava River near the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat. Rice husk has been found at Lothal and Rangpur, but the river name mentioned is slightly incorrect.

Since Statement-I is entirely correct and Statement-II is mostly correct except for the slight inaccuracy in the river name, the appropriate answer is:

**3. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I**

1. Sutkagendor - Located in the Fatehabad district of Haryana

Incorrect. Sutkagendor is actually located in the Makran district of Balochistan, Pakistan.

2. Chanhudaro - Located along the Indus River in Sindh, Pakistan

Correct. Chanhudaro is indeed located in the Nawabshah district of Sindh, Pakistan, along the Indus River.

3. Surkotada - Evidence of horse bones found

Correct. Surkotada is notable for the discovery of horse bones, which is unique among Harappan sites.

4. Banawali - Discovered by N.G. Majumdar

Incorrect. Banawali was discovered by R.S. Bisht, not N.G. Majumdar.

Thus, pairs 2 and 3 are correctly matched.

• Statement-I is correct Amri is an old settlement that back to 3600 BC. The site is found south of Mohenjo Daro on Hyderabad-Dadu Road in excess of 100 kilometres north of Hyderabad in Pakistan. 
• Statement-II is incorrect As Kot Diji is located on the left bank of the Indus River in the Sindh province of Pakistan.
• Thus, the correct answer is option 3, where Statement-I is true, but Statement-II is false.

The Old Stone age sites are generally located near water sources because water sources were the lifeline of the Old stone age people and thus the communities lived and hunted close to water sources.
Several rock shelters and caves used by the Paleolithic people are scattered across the subcontinent.
Some of the famous sites of Old Stone Age in India are:

• The Soan valley and Potwar Plateau on the northwest India.
• The Siwalik hills on the north India.
• Bhimpetka in Madhya Pradesh.
• Adamgarh hill in Narmada valley.
• Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh and

Attirampakkam near Chennai. Hence, (d)

1. Amri: The statement that Amri is located south of Mohenjo-daro in Pakistan and was excavated by Jean-Marie Casal is correct. Casal conducted excavations at Amri (Sindh) between 1959-1962, uncovering significant archaeological findings including evidence of metalworking and wheel pottery.

2. Balakot: This statement is also correct. Balakot is indeed situated near the middle of the Khurkera plain on the southeastern side of the Las Bela Valley, about 98 km northwest of Karachi. Robert Raikes discovered the site in 1959-1960, noting features such as a wide east-west lane and the use of mud bricks for construction.

3. Desalpur: The statement about Desalpur is accurate as well. It was a fortified township built of dressed stone with mud filling inside and was discovered by P. P Pandya and MA Dhakey in 1963. The site included houses constructed against the fortification wall and a central building with massive walls.

Since all the statements provided are correct, the answer is:

Option D: 1, 2 and 3

1. Correct. Sutkagendor is indeed located in the Makran district of Balochistan, Pakistan, along the banks of the Dast river. This statement is accurate.

2. Correct. The site includes a citadel and a 30-foot-wide defensive wall, which are typical features of Harappan sites. This statement is also accurate.

3. Incorrect. Sutkagendor was excavated in 1929 by the archaeologist Stein, not in 1964 by J.P. Joshi. Therefore, this statement is incorrect.

Given this analysis, statements 1 and 2 are correct, making Option B the right answer.

Before begininng to work in Pakistan, he had excavated the 4th-3rd millennium BC site of Mundigak in southern Afghanistan. In Pakistan, Jean-Marie Casal has directed the excavations at Amri (Sindh) in 1959-1962 and at Nindowari (Balochistan) in 1962-1965.

1. Mesopotamian Civilization - Basin of Nile river: Incorrect. The Mesopotamian Civilization evolved in the basin of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, not the Nile river.

2. Egyptian Civilization - Nile river valley: Correct. The Egyptian Civilization was based around the Nile river valley and the Nile delta.

3. Indus Valley Civilization - Indus river and its tributaries: Correct. The Indus Valley Civilization developed around the valleys of the Indus River and its major tributaries.

4. Chinese Civilization - Hwang Ho river basin: Correct. The Chinese Civilization emerged in Northern China around the Hwang Ho (Yellow) river basin.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

1. Mehrgarh, Pakistan - Earliest evidence of dentistry
Correct. Mehrgarh is an archaeological site in Pakistan, and evidence of dentistry dating back to 5,500 BC was found here.

2. Mohenjo-Daro - UNESCO World Heritage site since 1980
Correct. The ruins of Mohenjo-Daro were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980.

3. Pallavaram - First evidence of human beings in India
Incorrect. The first evidence of human beings in India was found in the Bori Caves of Maharashtra, not Pallavaram. Pallavaram is known for being a paleolithic culture site but not the earliest evidence.

4. Guptas - Issued the largest number of silver coins
Incorrect. The Guptas issued the largest number of gold coins, not silver coins, indicating the prosperity and extensive trade during their era.

Thus, pairs 1 and 2 are correctly matched, making Option B the correct answer.

1. The Harappans were the earliest people to produce cotton: This statement is correct. The Indus Valley Civilization is known to have been among the earliest cultures to cultivate and use cotton, as evidenced by archaeological findings.

2. The Great Bath at Mohenjo-Daro is surrounded by a paved courtyard: This statement is correct. The Great Bath, one of the most famous structures at Mohenjo-Daro, is indeed surrounded by a paved courtyard, indicating advanced engineering and architectural skills.

3. Stone implements were largely used by the Indus people: This statement is correct. Archaeological evidence shows that the people of the Indus Valley Civilization predominantly used stone tools and implements.

Thus, all three statements are correct. Therefore, the correct answer is Option D.

All three statements are correct 

1. Statement 1: The earliest evidence of dentistry indeed dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization. This was confirmed by the discovery of drilled human teeth in Mehrgarh, Pakistan, dating back to 5,500 BCE.

2. Statement 2: The Indus Valley Civilization was contemporary with the Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations, which is a well-established fact based on historical studies.

3. Statement 3: The ruins of Mohenjo-Daro, one of the major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization, were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980.

Hence, "Option D" is the correct answer as all the statements accurately reflect historical facts.

The Mesopotamian records from about 2350 BC onwards refer to trade relations with Meluha, which was the ancient name given to the Indus region, and they also speak of two intermediate stations called ‘Dilmun’ (identified with Bahrain on the Persian Gulf) and Makan (Makran Coast).
 

Statement-I correctly indicates that by 2600 BC, the Indus Valley Civilization had reached a mature stage, characterized by the development of large urban centers like Harappa and Mohenjodaro. This aligns with historical findings regarding the growth and urbanization of the civilization during this period.

Statement-II accurately points out that signs of decline in the Indus River Valley Civilization began around 1800 BC, leading to the abandonment of many cities by 1700 BC. This decline marked the eventual fall of the civilization, as indicated by archaeological evidence.

Therefore, both statements are factually correct, and Statement-II indeed provides an explanation for the circumstances described in Statement-I, making option (a) the correct answer.

- Statement 1 is correct. Kalibangan did have a double citadel with fire altars, which suggests the practice of the cult of sacrifice. This is a significant finding from the site, indicating ritualistic practices.

- Statement 2 is correct. Lothal, an ancient port city, featured a dockyard and a wharf loading platform. Additionally, rice husk was found at this site, which is unique to Lothal and Rangpur among Harappan sites.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. The Mesopotamian seal made of ivory and chess game pieces were discovered at Lothal, not Kot Diji. Kot Diji is known for its wheel-made painted pottery, defensive wall traces, well-aligned streets, and figurines of the Mother Goddess.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B.

• The Indus Valley Civilization declined around 1800 BCE, and scholars debate which factors resulted in the civilization’s demise. One theory suggested that a nomadic, Indo-European tribe called the Aryans invaded and conquered the Indus Valley Civilization, though more recent evidence tends to contradict this claim. Many scholars believe that the collapse of the Indus Valley Civilization was caused by climate change. Some experts believe the drying of the Saraswati River, which began around 1900 BCE, was the main cause for climate change, while others conclude that a great flood struck the area.

• Various elements of the Indus Civilization are found in later cultures, suggesting the civilization did not disappear suddenly due to an invasion. Many scholars argue that changes in river patterns caused the large civilization to break up into smaller communities called late Harappan cultures

Settlements in the Indus Valley Civilization began around 3000 BCE, signifying the initial stages of urbanization in the region. This period marked the growth of towns and cities in the area, showcasing the early development of a sophisticated urban society within the civilization.

This question tests your understanding of the timeline of urban development in the context of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. It's essential to grasp the chronological sequence of events to comprehend the historical progression of early civilizations.

Kalibangan is distinguished by its unique fire altars and "world's earliest attested ploughed field. It is a town located on the left or southern banks of the Ghaggar (Ghaggar-Hakra River) in Tehsil Pilibangān, between Suratgarh and Hanumangarh in Hanumangarh District, Rajasthan, India 205 km. from Bikaner. It is also identified as being established in the triangle of land at the confluence of Drishadvati and Saraswati Rivers. The prehistoric and pre-Mauryan character of Indus Valley Civilization was first identified by Luigi Tessitori at this site. Kalibangan's excavation report was published in its entirety in 2003 by the Archaeological Survey of India, 34 years after the completion of excavations. The report concluded that Kalibangan was a major provincial capital of the Indus Valley Civilization.

MOHENJODARO

-The most dramatic characteristic of the city is a commanding citadel.

-There lay in the citadel a ‘College’, a multipillar ‘Assembly Hall’ and the so-called ‘Great Bath’.

-Most of Mohenjodaro houses are built of kilnfired brick.

-The major streets are 33 feet wide and run north-south intersecting subordinate ones, running east-west, at right angles.

-The evidence of Indian ships (figured on a seal) and a piece of woven cloth has been discovered from here.

Let's break down the statements:

Statement-I:
"Inscriptions are more and better evidence than coins. Any script written on the hard surface is called inscription and their study is called epigraphy."

• This statement is partially correct. Inscriptions do provide valuable historical evidence, often more detailed than coins, especially regarding administrative, religious, and cultural practices. However, whether inscriptions are always "better" evidence than coins can be debated as coins also offer unique insights, particularly into the economy, trade, and political power. The definition of an inscription and epigraphy is accurate.

Statement-II:
"Monuments and sculptures can be used as a remembrance of a person or event which has become part of the cultural heritage."

• This statement is correct. Monuments and sculptures often serve as memorials or representations of significant individuals or events and are integral to cultural heritage.

Conclusion:

Both statements are correct, but Statement-II does not directly explain Statement-I. The connection between the study of inscriptions (epigraphy) and the use of monuments and sculptures as cultural heritage is not clearly established in these statements.

Thus, the correct answer is:

3: Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I.

The correct option is:

3. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, but Statement II does not explain Statement I

Statement I is correct because many Harappan inscriptions were indeed recorded on seals. Statement II is also correct because the Harappans were among the earliest people to produce cotton. However, Statement II does not explain Statement I, as they are unrelated facts about the Indus Valley Civilisation.

The Harappans did not know the use of Iron. Iron was not discovered by the Harappan people. Since it was a bronze age civilization, it had made many metallurgical advances in copper and bronze but not in Iron. Harappans procured raw material from other neighboring countries like Silver from Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq, Lead from Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gold was obtained from Karnataka and Copper from Rajasthan. Iron was actually not known to Indus Valley Civilization people or Harappan people.