The Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2500–1900 BCE), also known as the Harappan Civilization, was one of the world’s earliest urban societies, flourishing across the vast river plains of the Indus and Sarasvati river basins in modern-day Pakistan and northwest India. Renowned for its sophisticated grid-iron urban planning, advanced multi-room brick architecture, covered drainage systems, and standardized weights and measures, the civilization maintained extensive maritime and overland trade networks reaching Mesopotamia. Despite its vast economic prosperity and cultural sophistication, the civilization experienced a mysterious urban decline driven by environmental shifts, river course changes, and ecological stress.
1. Which of the following was the first site of the Indus Valley Civilization to be discovered?
Correct Answer: c) Harappa
Explanation:
Harappa was the first site of the Indus Valley Civilization to be excavated in 1921, which is why it is also called the Harappan Civilization.
2. Who among the following archaeologists led the excavation of Harappa in 1921?
Correct Answer: b) Daya Ram Sahni
Explanation:
Daya Ram Sahni led the excavation of Harappa in 1921 under the direction of John Marshall, the then Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India.
3. Mohenjo-Daro, one of the largest settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization, is located on the banks of which river?
Correct Answer: c) Indus
Explanation:
Mohenjo-Daro is situated on the right bank of the Indus River in the Larkana district of Sindh, Pakistan.
4. What is the literal meaning of the term 'Mohenjo-Daro' in the Sindhi language?
Correct Answer: b) Mound of the Dead
Explanation:
In Sindhi, 'Mohenjo-Daro' literally translates to 'Mound of the Dead'.
5. Which of the following was a unique feature of the urban planning of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Correct Answer: b) Grid system for streets and roads
Explanation:
The Harappan cities were distinguished by their highly organized grid system, where main streets intersected at right angles.
6. The Indus Valley Civilization belonged to which of the following historical periods?
Correct Answer: c) Chalcolithic / Bronze Age
Explanation:
The Indus Valley Civilization was a Bronze Age civilization, characterized by the use of bronze (an alloy of copper and tin) alongside stone tools.
7. Which of the following metals was NOT known to the people of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Correct Answer: d) Iron
Explanation:
Iron was not known to the Harappan people. The use of iron in the Indian subcontinent began much later, during the Vedic period.
8. The famous 'Great Bath', a large public bathing structure, was found at which Harappan site?
Correct Answer: c) Mohenjo-Daro
Explanation:
The Great Bath, one of the most well-known structures of the civilization, was discovered in the citadel area of Mohenjo-Daro.
9. Which Indus Valley site is famous for the discovery of an ancient dockyard?
Correct Answer: a) Lothal
Explanation:
Lothal, located in Gujarat, features a massive brick structure identified as a dockyard, indicating its role as a major maritime trade center.
10. Lothal was situated near the banks of which river?
Correct Answer: c) Bhogava
Explanation:
Lothal is situated near the Bhogava river, a tributary of the Sabarmati, in the Gulf of Khambhat.
11. Which Indus Valley site has provided evidence of a ploughed field?
Correct Answer: b) Kalibangan
Explanation:
Excavations at Kalibangan in Rajasthan revealed a ploughed field with two sets of furrows at right angles, suggesting mixed cropping.
12. What is the meaning of the name 'Kalibangan'?
Correct Answer: a) Black bangles
Explanation:
'Kalibangan' translates to 'black bangles', named for the large number of black terracotta bangles found at the site.
13. Which of the following is the only Indus city found without a citadel?
Correct Answer: c) Chanhudaro
Explanation:
Chanhudaro is unique among major Harappan sites as it is the only one discovered without a raised citadel.
14. The famous bronze statue of the 'Dancing Girl' was found at which site?
Correct Answer: b) Mohenjo-Daro
Explanation:
The 'Dancing Girl', a masterpiece of Harappan bronze casting using the lost-wax technique, was discovered at Mohenjo-Daro.
15. The stone sculpture of a bearded man, often referred to as the 'Priest-King', was carved from which material?
Correct Answer: b) Steatite
Explanation:
The famous 'Priest-King' statue found at Mohenjo-Daro was carved from steatite (soapstone).
16. The Harappan script was written in which direction?
Correct Answer: c) Right to left in the first line, and left to right in the second (Boustrophedon)
Explanation:
The Harappan script is generally written right to left, but longer texts follow a Boustrophedon style (alternating directions like an ox plowing a field).
17. Has the script of the Indus Valley Civilization been completely deciphered by historians?
Correct Answer: c) No, it remains undeciphered
Explanation:
Despite numerous attempts by scholars over a century, the Indus script remains undeciphered.
18. Which animal is most frequently depicted on Harappan seals?
Correct Answer: c) Unicorn (one-horned mythical beast)
Explanation:
The 'unicorn', a mythical one-horned animal, is the most commonly depicted creature on Harappan steatite seals.
19. Which of the following animals is NOT depicted on the famous 'Pashupati Seal' found at Mohenjo-Daro?
Correct Answer: d) Lion
Explanation:
The Pashupati seal depicts a central figure surrounded by an elephant, a tiger, a rhinoceros, and a buffalo, with two deer at his feet. The lion was unknown to them.
20. The primary material used for making Harappan seals was:
Correct Answer: c) Steatite
Explanation:
Most Harappan seals were carved out of steatite, a soft soapstone that was easy to carve and then hardened by heating.
21. Evidence of a 'bead-making factory' has been found at which of the following pairs of sites?
Correct Answer: a) Lothal and Chanhudaro
Explanation:
Both Lothal and Chanhudaro were major industrial centers known for specialized crafts, specifically bead-making.
22. What was the name used by the ancient Mesopotamians to refer to the Indus Valley region?
Correct Answer: c) Meluhha
Explanation:
Mesopotamian texts refer to trade with 'Meluhha', which historians and archaeologists identify as the Indus Valley Civilization.
23. Which of the following sites has provided the earliest evidence of an earthquake in human history?
Correct Answer: b) Kalibangan
Explanation:
Archaeological excavations at Kalibangan revealed fault lines and structural collapse indicating an earthquake around 2600 BCE.
24. The standard system of Harappan weights was based on multiples of which number?
Correct Answer: c) 16
Explanation:
The Harappan weighing system was binary in the lower denominations and decimal in higher ones, but predominantly based on the ratio of 16 (e.g., 16, 64, 160, 320).
25. Which Indus Valley site is renowned for its highly advanced water management and harvesting system?
Correct Answer: c) Dholavira
Explanation:
Dholavira, located in the arid Rann of Kutch, featured a sophisticated system of rock-cut reservoirs, dams, and channels for water conservation.
26. Dholavira is geographically unique among major Harappan sites because it was divided into how many main parts?
Correct Answer: b) Three
Explanation:
Unlike most Harappan cities which were divided into two parts (Citadel and Lower Town), Dholavira was divided into three distinct sections: Citadel, Middle Town, and Lower Town.
27. The Harappan civilization was the first in the world to cultivate which of the following crops?
Correct Answer: b) Cotton
Explanation:
The Indus Valley people were the first to grow cotton, and the Greeks later referred to it as 'Sindon' (derived from Sindh).
28. Evidence of bones of horses, an animal generally rare in the IVC, was found at which site?
Correct Answer: a) Surkotada
Explanation:
Surkotada in Gujarat is the only Indus site where the remains of a horse have actually been found, though its association with the mature Harappan phase is sometimes debated.
29. At which Indus Valley site were the remains of a dog buried with a human found?
Correct Answer: b) Ropar
Explanation:
Excavations at Ropar (in Punjab) revealed an oval pit burial where a dog was buried along with its master, a practice more common in the Neolithic site of Burzahom.
30. Which of the following is currently recognized as the largest Indus Valley Civilization site in India?
Correct Answer: b) Rakhigarhi
Explanation:
Rakhigarhi, located in the Hisar district of Haryana, has been established through recent excavations as the largest IVC site in the Indian subcontinent.
31. The northernmost known site of the Indus Valley Civilization is:
Correct Answer: d) Manda
Explanation:
Manda, located on the right bank of the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, is considered the northernmost site of the IVC.
32. The southernmost known site of the Indus Valley Civilization is:
Correct Answer: a) Daimabad
Explanation:
Daimabad, located on the banks of the Pravara River in Maharashtra, is the southernmost confirmed site of the Indus Valley Civilization.
33. The easternmost boundary of the Indus Valley Civilization is marked by which site?
Correct Answer: c) Alamgirpur
Explanation:
Alamgirpur, located in the Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh near the Hindon River, represents the easternmost extent of the IVC.
34. The westernmost site of the Indus Valley Civilization, which served as a major trade outpost, is:
Correct Answer: a) Sutkagen Dor
Explanation:
Sutkagen Dor, located in the Makran coast of Balochistan near the Iranian border, is the westernmost known site.
35. Evidence of 'double burial' (a male and a female buried together) was found at which Harappan site?
Correct Answer: c) Lothal
Explanation:
Lothal yielded evidence of double burials in brick-lined graves, where a male and a female were buried in the same grave.
36. Which of the following was the most likely political organization of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Correct Answer: c) Rule by a class of wealthy merchants or an oligarchy
Explanation:
Given the absence of prominent palaces or monumental temples, and the emphasis on standard weights, measures, and trade, scholars believe the IVC was likely governed by a merchant oligarchy.
37. The accepted C-14 (Radiocarbon) dating for the 'Mature Phase' of the Indus Valley Civilization is approximately:
Correct Answer: b) 2500 - 1750 BCE
Explanation:
Radiocarbon dating establishes the Mature Harappan phase, marked by its urban peak, roughly between 2500 BCE and 1750 BCE.
38. Which scholar famously proposed the theory that an 'Aryan Invasion' was responsible for the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Correct Answer: c) Mortimer Wheeler
Explanation:
Mortimer Wheeler proposed the Aryan Invasion theory based on references to the destruction of forts in the Rigveda and unburied skeletons found at Mohenjo-Daro, though this theory is now largely discarded.
39. Today, what is the most widely accepted theory among archaeologists for the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Correct Answer: c) Ecological degradation, climate change, and shifting of river courses
Explanation:
Modern consensus favors environmental factors, such as the shifting/drying up of the Saraswati-Ghaggar-Hakra river system, altered monsoon patterns, and ecological imbalance, as the primary causes of decline.
40. Which Harappan site yielded a terracotta model of a plough?
Correct Answer: b) Banawali
Explanation:
A complete terracotta model of a plough was recovered during the excavations at Banawali (Haryana).
41. Fire altars, suggesting ritualistic fire worship, have been found at which of the following sites?
Correct Answer: a) Kalibangan and Lothal
Explanation:
Evidence of fire altars (havan kunds) containing ash and animal bones was found at Kalibangan and Lothal, pointing to specific religious rituals.
42. The Indus Valley people heavily imported Lapis Lazuli, a semi-precious blue stone, from which region?
Correct Answer: c) Badakhshan (Afghanistan)
Explanation:
Lapis Lazuli was highly prized and imported from the Badakhshan region in modern-day Afghanistan, where the Harappans established a trading outpost at Shortugai.
43. The Indus Valley Civilization traded extensively to acquire copper. The primary domestic source of this copper was:
Correct Answer: a) The Khetri mines in Rajasthan
Explanation:
The Harappans acquired most of their copper from the Khetri mines in Rajasthan, as well as from Oman (Magan).
44. Evidence of rice husk, indicating rice cultivation, was primarily found at which Harappan sites?
Correct Answer: b) Lothal and Rangpur
Explanation:
While wheat and barley were the staple crops, evidence of rice cultivation (rice husks embedded in clay) was found at the Gujarati sites of Lothal and Rangpur.
45. What geometric shape was characteristic of the typical Harappan seal?
Correct Answer: c) Square or Rectangular
Explanation:
The vast majority of Harappan seals are square or rectangular in shape, featuring an animal motif and a short inscription.
46. Which tree was highly revered and frequently depicted on the seals of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Correct Answer: c) Peepal
Explanation:
The Peepal tree (Ficus religiosa) was considered sacred and is depicted on numerous seals, sometimes with deities enclosed within its branches.
47. A massive 'Signboard' containing ten large Indus script characters was discovered at which site?
Correct Answer: c) Dholavira
Explanation:
A unique wooden signboard containing ten large Indus characters made of gypsum was found embedded in a gateway room at Dholavira.
48. Which of the following was NOT a typical feature of a Harappan house?
Correct Answer: c) Windows opening onto the main street
Explanation:
For privacy and to keep out dust, Harappan houses were designed so that doors and windows opened into side alleys or central courtyards, never onto the main streets.
49. The trefoil pattern (a design with three interlocking circles) is found on the garment of which famous Harappan artifact?
Correct Answer: b) The Priest-King
Explanation:
The steatite bust of the 'Priest-King' wears a cloak draped over his left shoulder, which is decorated with a distinct trefoil pattern.
50. The weights used by the Harappans were typically made of a hard stone called:
Correct Answer: b) Chert
Explanation:
Harappan weights were highly standardized, cubical in shape, and made of a hard, dense stone called chert.
51. Which of the following sites provides evidence of pre-Harappan, mature-Harappan, and post-Harappan phases all in one location?
Correct Answer: a) Banawali
Explanation:
Banawali (in Haryana) is one of the key sites that shows a continuous sequence of pre-Harappan, mature Harappan, and late/post-Harappan phases.
52. What is 'Faience' in the context of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Correct Answer: b) An artificially produced material used to make beads, bangles, and small vessels
Explanation:
Faience is an artificially manufactured material made by heating crushed quartz with a gum binder and a copper colorant, creating a glassy, blue-green surface.
53. Which Harappan site yielded the remains of a stadium or a large terraced open area for public gatherings?
Correct Answer: b) Dholavira
Explanation:
Dholavira features a unique large, flat open space with terraced seating that archaeologists identify as a stadium or ceremonial gathering ground.
54. At which Indus site were the remains of camels found?
Correct Answer: a) Kalibangan
Explanation:
Bones of camels, suggesting they were used as draft animals, were discovered during excavations at Kalibangan.
55. The Indus Valley Civilization primarily belonged to which geographical shape in terms of its overall spread?
Correct Answer: c) Triangular
Explanation:
The entire geographic spread of the Indus Valley Civilization roughly formed a massive triangle, covering northwestern India, Pakistan, and parts of Afghanistan.
56. Who was the first person to notice the ruins of Harappa in 1826?
Correct Answer: a) Charles Masson
Explanation:
Charles Masson, a British East India Company soldier and explorer, was the first Westerner to document the mounds at Harappa in 1826.
57. Which British engineer used the ancient bricks from Harappa to build the Lahore-Multan railway line in the 1850s?
Correct Answer: b) John Brunton and William Brunton
Explanation:
The Brunton brothers notoriously plundered the ruins of Harappa to use its high-quality baked bricks as track ballast for the Lahore-Multan railway.
58. Which artifact from Mohenjo-Daro is considered strong evidence of the civilization's knowledge of woven textiles?
Correct Answer: d) Both b and c
Explanation:
Actual traces of woven cotton cloth were found attached to the lid of a silver vase at Mohenjo-Daro, and widespread spindle whorls prove they spun thread.
59. The ancient Harappan site of Amri, known for the remains of a rhinoceros, is located in which region?
Correct Answer: c) Sindh
Explanation:
Amri is an ancient settlement located in the Sindh province of Pakistan, situated south of Mohenjo-Daro.
60. Which characteristic pottery type is most closely associated with the Mature Harappan phase?
Correct Answer: c) Red and Black Ware (Red pottery painted with black designs)
Explanation:
The signature Harappan pottery was wheel-made, well-baked red ware decorated with geometric and naturalistic motifs painted in black slip.
61. Nageshwar and Balakot, two specialized coastal Harappan sites, were primarily known for the manufacture of:
Correct Answer: c) Shell objects (bangles, ladles, inlay)
Explanation:
Due to their proximity to the coast, both Nageshwar (Gujarat) and Balakot (Pakistan) were specialized centers for making shell objects.
62. What was the purpose of the numerous seals found across Harappan sites?
Correct Answer: b) Used primarily for commercial purposes, indicating ownership and securing trade goods
Explanation:
Seals were pressed into wet clay to seal rope-tied bundles of trade goods, ensuring they were untampered with and identifying the sender.
63. The largest building discovered at Mohenjo-Daro is:
Correct Answer: b) The Great Granary
Explanation:
The Great Granary is the largest structure found at Mohenjo-Daro, likely used to store massive quantities of grain collected as taxes.
64. At Harappa, granaries were arranged in a specific pattern. What was it?
Correct Answer: b) Two rows of six granaries each
Explanation:
Excavations at Harappa revealed a series of brick platforms which formed the foundations of two rows of six granaries.
65. Which of the following birds was frequently represented in Harappan art and is thought to have been worshipped?
Correct Answer: c) Dove / Pigeon
Explanation:
Terracotta models of doves have been found, and the bird is believed to have been sacred to the Harappan people.
66. The swastika symbol, prevalent in later Indian religions, has its earliest known roots in which civilization?
Correct Answer: b) Indus Valley Civilization
Explanation:
Numerous seals and impressions bearing the swastika symbol have been found at Harappan sites, indicating its ancient origins in the subcontinent.
67. Which Harappan site shows evidence of a primitive medical practice known as trephination (drilling a hole in the skull)?
Correct Answer: a) Kalibangan
Explanation:
A child's skull found at Kalibangan shows evidence of trephination (holes drilled into the skull), suggesting early medical or surgical practices.
68. The Indus Valley people imported gold primarily from:
Correct Answer: c) South India (Karnataka)
Explanation:
Gold was likely imported from the Kolar gold fields in South India, as well as from Afghanistan and Persia.
69. Which metal was used to make the famous mirrors found in Harappan excavations?
Correct Answer: c) Copper/Bronze
Explanation:
Harappan women used slightly oval mirrors made of polished copper and bronze.
70. Evidence suggests that the Harappan people practiced which form of disposal of the dead most frequently?
Correct Answer: b) Extended inhumation (burial) in rectangular pits
Explanation:
The most common method of disposing of the dead was extended inhumation, where the body was laid on its back in a rectangular pit, usually with the head pointing north.
71. Which of the following is true regarding the religious practices of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Correct Answer: c) No definitive temples or central places of worship have been found.
Explanation:
Unlike contemporary Egypt and Mesopotamia, the Harappans did not build monumental temples. Religious worship likely took place in homes or natural settings.
72. The Harappan civilization was characterized by a distinct lack of:
Correct Answer: b) Advanced weaponry and a warrior class
Explanation:
Excavations have yielded very few weapons, suggesting a largely peaceful society primarily focused on trade, agriculture, and commerce rather than warfare.
73. An ivory scale, providing evidence of linear measurement, was discovered at:
Correct Answer: c) Lothal
Explanation:
An ivory scale with precise divisions was found at Lothal, indicating that the Harappans used sophisticated systems of linear measurement.
74. Which Harappan site is located in the Kutch district of Gujarat on Khadir Bet?
Correct Answer: c) Dholavira
Explanation:
Dholavira is situated on Khadir Bet (an island) in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat.
75. The terracotta figurines of women, heavily adorned with jewelry and distinct headdresses, are widely interpreted by historians as:
Correct Answer: b) The Mother Goddess
Explanation:
The numerous terracotta figurines of females with elaborate headdresses are generally identified as representations of a fertility deity or 'Mother Goddess'.
76. What term is used for the late phase of the Indus Valley Civilization when cities were abandoned, and people moved to rural settlements?
Correct Answer: c) Late Harappan (Post-Urban Phase)
Explanation:
The Late Harappan phase (c. 1900–1300 BCE) marks the post-urban decline, characterized by the abandonment of large cities and a return to rural, localized cultures.
77. Which of the following sites was an IVC trading outpost located far north in Afghanistan?
Correct Answer: a) Shortugai
Explanation:
Shortugai was a Harappan trading colony in northern Afghanistan, established primarily to mine and control the trade of Lapis Lazuli.
78. Evidence of cosmetic items, including what appears to be lipstick, was found at which industrial Harappan site?
Correct Answer: c) Chanhudaro
Explanation:
Chanhudaro, known as the 'Lancashire of India', was a major craft center where archaeologists found evidence of cosmetics, including a red pigment stick similar to lipstick.
79. Who was the first scholar to use the term 'Indus Civilization'?
Correct Answer: b) John Marshall
Explanation:
Sir John Marshall, the Director-General of the ASI during the major excavations of the 1920s, was the first to use the term 'Indus Civilization' in an official publication.
80. Which characteristic of Harappan bricks suggests a highly centralized administration?
Correct Answer: c) They had a standardized uniform ratio of 4:2:1 (length:width:thickness).
Explanation:
Baked bricks across all major Harappan sites maintained a strict, standardized size ratio of 4:2:1, indicating strong central authority or strict cultural norms.
81. The main focus of Harappan agriculture was the cultivation of:
Correct Answer: b) Wheat and Barley
Explanation:
The staple crops of the Indus Valley Civilization were various strains of wheat and barley.
82. In the Harappan city layout, the raised area where important public buildings were located is called the:
Correct Answer: c) Citadel
Explanation:
Harappan cities were typically divided into a smaller, raised western part called the Citadel (housing public buildings) and a larger, lower eastern part called the Lower Town.
83. The Indus Valley Civilization is also known as the Harappan Civilization because:
Correct Answer: b) Harappa was the first site to be excavated.
Explanation:
In archaeology, it is a standard convention to name an ancient culture after the first site where its unique artifacts were discovered.
84. Which of the following rivers was NOT associated with the core area of the mature Harappan civilization?
Correct Answer: d) Ganges
Explanation:
The mature Harappan civilization was centered around the Indus and Ghaggar-Hakra river systems. Expansion into the Ganges-Yamuna doab occurred during the Late Harappan phase.
85. Which civilization is recognized as the contemporary trading partner of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Correct Answer: c) Mesopotamian (Sumerian, Akkadian)
Explanation:
Archaeological evidence, including Harappan seals found in Ur and Sumerian texts mentioning 'Meluhha', proves extensive trade between the IVC and Mesopotamia.
86. A bronze scale used for measurement was discovered at which site?
Correct Answer: a) Harappa
Explanation:
While an ivory scale was found at Lothal, a distinct bronze measuring rod/scale was discovered at Harappa.
87. Which animal was depicted as 'half-human and half-animal' in some mythological Harappan seals?
Correct Answer: b) A tiger with a human face
Explanation:
Several Harappan seals show composite creatures, including a prominent motif of a figure that is part human and part tiger.
88. The majority of the population in Harappan cities were likely:
Correct Answer: c) Merchants, artisans, and farmers
Explanation:
The urban centers were hubs of trade and craft, populated mainly by artisans, traders, laborers, and the farmers who supplied food from the hinterlands.
89. What unique feature was found in the houses of Lothal that is uncommon in other Harappan cities?
Correct Answer: b) Doors opening onto the main street
Explanation:
Unlike Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa where doors opened into side lanes, the houses in Lothal uniquely had entrances on the main street.
90. The Indus script is primarily considered to be:
Correct Answer: c) Logographic / Pictographic
Explanation:
The script contains over 400 distinct signs, which is too many for an alphabet and too few for a purely logographic system; it is generally considered a logo-syllabic or pictographic script.
91. At which site was a unique burial found where a person was buried in a wooden coffin?
Correct Answer: b) Harappa
Explanation:
In cemetery R-37 at Harappa, archaeologists found a rare burial where the deceased was placed inside a wooden coffin.
92. Which of the following sites gives evidence of a pre-Harappan settlement destroyed by fire?
Correct Answer: b) Kot Diji
Explanation:
Excavations at Kot Diji (in Sindh) revealed a pre-Harappan fortified settlement that was destroyed by a massive fire before the mature Harappan phase began.
93. Which of the following items was completely unknown to the Indus Valley people?
Correct Answer: c) Coinage
Explanation:
The Harappans did not use metallic money or coins. Trade was conducted via a sophisticated barter system using standardized weights.
94. The 'Pashupati' seal depicts a seated figure surrounded by animals. This figure is widely considered an early prototype of which Hindu god?
Correct Answer: c) Shiva
Explanation:
John Marshall identified the seated, three-faced figure surrounded by animals as 'Proto-Shiva' (Pashupati, the Lord of Animals), an early form of the Hindu god Shiva.
95. The 'Great Bath' was made watertight using a layer of:
Correct Answer: b) Bitumen (natural tar)
Explanation:
To prevent water seepage, the floor and walls of the Great Bath were lined with finely fitted bricks and coated with a thick layer of natural tar (bitumen).
96. A famous seal depicting a deity with a horned headdress sitting in a yogic posture was found at:
Correct Answer: a) Mohenjo-Daro
Explanation:
The Pashupati Seal, arguably the most famous Harappan seal, was excavated at Mohenjo-Daro.
97. The discovery of Harappan seals in Mesopotamia, specifically at sites like Ur and Kish, indicates:
Correct Answer: c) Flourishing long-distance trade between the two civilizations.
Explanation:
Seals were used to mark trade goods. The presence of Harappan seals in Mesopotamia proves a robust, long-distance trade network existed between them.
98. Which of the following is true regarding Harappan pottery?
Correct Answer: c) It was mostly wheel-made and decorated with black designs on a red background.
Explanation:
Harappan pottery was highly advanced, predominantly wheel-made, and is famous for its bright red slip painted with black geometric and natural motifs.
99. Which of the following Harappan sites is located in Pakistan?
Correct Answer: d) Chanhudaro
Explanation:
Chanhudaro is located in the Nawabshah district of Sindh, Pakistan, whereas the other three are located in India.
100. The people of the Indus Valley Civilization imported silver primarily from:
Correct Answer: b) Afghanistan and Iran
Explanation:
Silver was not mined locally in large quantities and was primarily imported from mines in Afghanistan and Iran (Persia).
101. Which craft was Chanhudaro most famous for?
Correct Answer: c) Bead-making and seal-making
Explanation:
Chanhudaro was heavily industrialized, dedicated entirely to crafts like bead-making, shell-working, seal-making, and weight-making.
102. At which site have archaeologists found the practice of burying dogs with their owners?
Correct Answer: a) Ropar
Explanation:
Ropar (in modern-day Punjab, India) contains burials where dogs were interred with their masters.
103. The Indus Valley diet was mostly omnivorous. Which of the following animals did they NOT typically consume?
Correct Answer: c) Horse
Explanation:
They consumed fish, fowl, mutton, beef, and pork. The horse was virtually unknown to them and certainly not part of their standard diet.
104. Which part of the Harappan city usually contained the public buildings and granaries?
Correct Answer: b) The Citadel
Explanation:
The Citadel, built on a raised platform, contained the important public buildings like granaries, assembly halls, and the Great Bath.
105. Which of the following sites provided evidence of a unique water-harvesting system involving rock-cut reservoirs?
Correct Answer: b) Dholavira
Explanation:
Due to its arid location, Dholavira developed a highly sophisticated water conservation system using large rock-cut reservoirs.
106. What material was primarily used for making the drainage pipes in Harappan cities?
Correct Answer: c) Baked bricks and terracotta
Explanation:
The Harappans used tightly fitted baked bricks for drains, often covering them with loose brick slabs or stone, and used terracotta pipes for vertical drainage.
107. An inkpot was discovered at which of the following Harappan sites?
Correct Answer: b) Chanhudaro
Explanation:
A small terracotta object identified as an inkpot was discovered at Chanhudaro.
108. The Indus Valley Civilization declined around 1900-1700 BCE. The phase following this decline is generally termed:
Correct Answer: c) The Late Harappan / Ochre Coloured Pottery phase
Explanation:
The post-urban decline phase is called the Late Harappan culture, which often overlaps regionally with Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP) cultures.
109. Which of the following scholars is famous for conducting the first systematic and scientific excavations at Harappa in the 1920s?
Correct Answer: d) Daya Ram Sahni
Explanation:
Daya Ram Sahni initiated the first major scientific excavations at Harappa in 1921 under the guidance of John Marshall.
110. The Harappan site of Rakhigarhi, the largest site in India, is situated on the banks of the paleo-channel of which river?
Correct Answer: c) Ghaggar-Hakra (Saraswati)
Explanation:
Rakhigarhi is located in the Ghaggar-Hakra river plain, which many scholars associate with the dried-up ancient Saraswati river.
111. Which of the following Harappan sites was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2021?
Correct Answer: b) Dholavira
Explanation:
Dholavira, an ancient metropolitan city in Gujarat, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2021 for its outstanding urban planning and water management.
112. The 'Dancing Girl' statue is notable because she is depicted wearing:
Correct Answer: c) A multitude of bangles on her left arm
Explanation:
The naked bronze figure is famously adorned with a stack of bangles covering her entire left arm, a style still seen in some parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan today.
113. The Indus Valley people had trading links with the Persian Gulf. Which modern-day country encompasses the ancient trading partner 'Magan'?
Correct Answer: c) Oman
Explanation:
Magan, a region mentioned in Sumerian cuneiform texts as a source of copper for Mesopotamia and the IVC, is widely identified with modern-day Oman.
114. At which Indus Valley site were the remains of an altar containing charred animal bones found, suggesting animal sacrifice?
Correct Answer: c) Kalibangan
Explanation:
Kalibangan features several fire altars containing ash and charred animal bones, strongly pointing to ritualistic animal sacrifice.
115. In the context of the Harappan civilization, what does the term 'Amulet' mostly signify?
Correct Answer: b) A piece of jewelry worn to ward off evil spirits
Explanation:
Numerous amulets have been found, suggesting that the Harappans believed in magic and charms to ward off demons or evil spirits.
116. Which of the following Harappan sites is located in the Indian state of Punjab?
Correct Answer: b) Ropar
Explanation:
Ropar (also known as Rupnagar) is located in Punjab, India. Banawali is in Haryana, Lothal in Gujarat, and Alamgirpur in Uttar Pradesh.
117. What material did the Harappans use to make their standard cubical weights?
Correct Answer: c) Chert
Explanation:
Chert, a hard, dark, opaque rock composed of silica, was cut into precise cubical shapes to serve as standardized weights for trade.
118. What is the most outstanding feature of the drainage system in Harappan cities?
Correct Answer: b) Every house was connected to the street drains, which were covered.
Explanation:
The sophisticated drainage system ensured that wastewater from every house flowed into covered street drains, which had manholes for cleaning.
