The correct answer is option D, Iron.


The Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization, developed around the Indus River in present-day Pakistan and northwest India. It existed from approximately 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE.


The people of the Indus Valley Civilization were skilled in various forms of metalworking. They had a good understanding of metallurgy and produced a wide range of metal objects for domestic use, trade, and religious purposes. The most common metals used by the Indus Valley people were copper and bronze.


a) Copper: Copper was widely used by the Indus Valley people. They mastered the art of extracting copper from its ores and produced a variety of copper tools, utensils, and ornaments.

b) Bronze: Bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, was also known and used by the Indus Valley people. They were skilled in bronze casting and produced bronze tools, weapons, and decorative objects.

c) Gold: Gold was also known to the Indus Valley people. They used gold for making ornaments, jewelry, and other decorative items. Gold objects have been found in various Indus Valley archaeological sites.


Iron, however, was not known to the Indus Valley people. The use of iron was limited during the period of the Indus Valley Civilization, and iron tools and objects have not been found in significant quantities in the archaeological remains of the Indus Valley sites.


Based on archaeological evidence, it can be concluded that while the Indus Valley people were skilled in working with metals like copper, bronze, and gold, they did not have knowledge of iron metallurgy. Iron became more prevalent in the later Vedic period and played a significant role in subsequent ancient Indian civilizations.