Harappan Civilisation and Archaeology
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary material used to make the Harappan seal?

  • Terracotta
  • Copper
  • Marble
  • Steatite (correct)

    • What is the significance of the scripts found on the Harappan seals?

  • They are a form of ancient Harappan poetry
  • They provide a clear understanding of the Harappan language
  • They remain undeciphered to this day (correct)
  • They are symbols of the Harappan Kingdom's power

    • What is the primary source of information about the Harappan civilisation?

  • Eyewitness accounts
  • Written records from the time
  • Archaeological evidence (correct)
  • Oral traditions passed down through generations

    • What is the characteristic of the settlements before the emergence of the Mature Harappan culture?

    <p>They were small and lacked large buildings</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the large-scale burning at some sites and the abandonment of certain settlements?

    <p>It suggests a break between the Early Harappan and the Harappan civilisation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be inferred from the development of the Mature Harappan culture in areas occupied by the Early Harappan cultures?

    <p>The Mature Harappan culture developed from the Early Harappan cultures</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary source of evidence for reconstructing dietary practices of the Harappans?

    <p>Finds of charred grains and seeds</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the significance of the discovery of a ploughed field at Kalibangan?

    <p>It showed that the Harappans grew two different crops together</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was unique about the bricks used at all Harappan settlements?

    <p>They were of a standardised ratio</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the purpose of the platforms on which buildings were constructed in the Citadel?

    <p>To provide a foundation for the buildings</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be inferred from the discovery of terracotta models of the plough?

    <p>The Harappans used oxen for ploughing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the significance of the walled Citadel and Lower Town?

    <p>They were physically separated from each other</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be inferred from the layout of roads and streets in the Lower Town?

    <p>The Harappans used a grid pattern for building roads and streets</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the finds of fish and fowl bones at Harappan sites?

    <p>They indicate that the Harappans ate fish and fowl as part of their diet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the likely use of water reservoirs found in Dholavira?

    <p>They were used for storing water for agriculture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the discovery of canals at the Harappan site of Shortughai?

    <p>It suggests that the Harappans used irrigation for agriculture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why were little pots of faience considered precious?

    <p>They were difficult to make</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is unique about the distribution of rare objects made of valuable materials?

    <p>They are concentrated in large settlements like Mohenjodaro and Harappa</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is characteristic of the beads found at Chanhudaro?

    <p>They were made of a variety of materials</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How were steatite beads made?

    <p>By moulding out of a paste made with steatite powder</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of waste material in identifying centres of craft production?

    <p>It is an indicator of rejects and waste material</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the likely purpose of the miniature pots of faience?

    <p>They were used as perfume bottles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is unique about the settlement of Chanhudaro?

    <p>It is exclusively devoted to craft production</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the process of making beads from harder stones?

    <p>Chipping nodules into rough shapes and then finely flaking</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the significance of Nageshwar and Balakot?

    <p>They were near the coast and centres of making shell objects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were the larger waste pieces of material sometimes used for?

    <p>Making smaller objects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why did every house need to have at least one wall along a street in Mohenjodaro?

    <p>To allow for domestic waste water to flow into the street drains</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the likely purpose of the courtyard in the houses of Mohenjodaro?

    <p>To provide a space for cooking and weaving</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was unique about the windows in the houses of Mohenjodaro?

    <p>There were no windows in the walls along the ground level</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What feature did many houses in Mohenjodaro have that was accessible from the outside?

    <p>A well</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the purpose of the Great Bath in the Citadel of Mohenjodaro?

    <p>It was a ritual bath for special purposes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did archaeologists use burials to identify social differences in the Harappan civilization?

    <p>By examining the distribution of wealth in burials</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of objects did archaeologists classify as 'luxuries' in the Harappan civilization?

    <p>Objects made from precious materials such as copper and jasper</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the significance of the courtyard in the Great Bath of Mohenjodaro?

    <p>It was surrounded by a corridor on all four sides</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What feature did the houses of Mohenjodaro have that suggests a concern for privacy?

    <p>No windows in the walls along the ground level</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the estimated number of wells in Mohenjodaro?

    <p>700</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be inferred about the script of the Harappan civilization?

    <p>It was not alphabetical, with a large number of signs between 375 and 400.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the spacing on the Harappan seals?

    <p>It indicates the direction of writing, from right to left.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be inferred about the literacy rate in the Harappan society?

    <p>Literacy was widespread, with a large number of people able to read and write.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the characteristic of the weights used in the Harappan system of exchange?

    <p>They were made of chert and had no markings on them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the uniformity of Harappan artefacts?

    <p>It suggests that there was a central authority or complex decision-making process.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be inferred about the organisation of the Harappan society?

    <p>It was a complex society with a central authority or rulers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the 'priest-king' statue?

    <p>It is an artefact of unknown significance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the characteristic of the Harappan settlements after 1900 BCE?

    <p>They declined and were eventually abandoned, with a transformation of material culture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What brought about the changes in the Harappan society around 1800 BCE?

    <p>The exact reason is unknown, but it is evident that there were significant changes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the characteristic of the 'Late Harappan' or 'successor cultures'?

    <p>They were characterised by a rural way of life, with a decrease in the use of materials and a decline in house construction techniques.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary reason for the collapse of the entire Harappan civilization?

    <p>The decline of the Harappan state</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was likely the purpose of the thick coating on the Harappan jars found in Oman?

    <p>To prevent the percolation of liquids</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was Cunningham's main area of interest?

    <p>The archaeology of the Early Historic period</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the probable source of copper for the Harappans?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the significance of the discovery of similar seals at Mohenjo-Daro?

    <p>It proved the existence of a single archaeological culture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the significance of John Marshall's announcement in 1924?

    <p>It announced the discovery of a new civilization in the Indus valley, contemporaneous with Mesopotamia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do the Mesopotamian texts suggest about the region of Meluhha?

    <p>It was a land of seafarers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why did Cunningham not realize the significance of the Harappan seal?

    <p>Because he was focused on the Early Historic period</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the likely purpose of the settlements established by the Harappans in areas such as Nageshwar and Balakot?

    <p>To procure raw materials for craft production</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do the finds of Harappan artefacts such as steatite micro beads in areas like south India suggest?

    <p>Contact and exchange with local communities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the result of Cunningham's excavation of sites?

    <p>He recovered artefacts with cultural value</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the significance of the discovery of Harappan artefacts during the nineteenth century?

    <p>They were not recognized as being of significance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do the depictions of ships and boats on seals suggest?

    <p>The Harappans had a well-developed naval trade</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the result of the excavation of sites at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro?

    <p>The discovery of a new civilization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the probable purpose of the sealing on the bags of goods?

    <p>To ensure the contents of the bag were not tampered with</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name given to the culture with distinctive non-Harappan pottery and an unusual wealth of copper objects?

    <p>Ganeshwar-Jodhpura culture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the significance of the discovery of similar seals at Mesopotamian sites?

    <p>It proved the existence of a contemporaneous civilization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the probable material that was exchanged for Omani copper?

    <p>The contents of the Harappan jars</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What marked a major change in Indian archaeology?

    <p>John Marshall's stint as Director-General of the ASI</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do the Mesopotamian texts refer to as the products from Meluhha?

    <p>Lapis lazuli, copper, and varieties of wood</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a limitation of John Marshall's excavation technique?

    <p>Ignoring the stratigraphy of the site</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant contribution of R.E.M. Wheeler to archaeology?

    <p>Recognizing the importance of following the stratigraphy of the mound</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why have Indian archaeologists been spurred to search for new Harappan sites in India?

    <p>Due to the partition of the subcontinent and the creation of Pakistan</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What has been a focus of archaeologists studying the Harappan civilization in recent decades?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What has been a feature of Harappan archaeology since the 1980s?

    <p>Growing international interest</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the benefit of the joint international collaborations in Harappan archaeology?

    <p>Yielding interesting results in the future</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of materials generally decompose, especially in tropical regions?

    <p>Cloth, leather, wood, and reeds</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why are valuable artefacts that are found intact often accidental discoveries?

    <p>Because they were lost in the past or hoarded and never retrieved</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to archaeologists, how do you classify artefacts in terms of function?

    <p>By resemblance to present-day things, such as beads or querns</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do archaeologists think that only broken or useless objects would have been thrown away?

    <p>Because other objects would have been recycled</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one principle of classification for artefacts?

    <p>By material, such as stone or metal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do archaeologists classify artefacts?

    <p>To understand the function of an artefact</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary method archaeologists use to identify the function of an artefact?

    <p>By investigating the context in which it was found</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the god mentioned in the Rigveda that is similar to Shiva?

    <p>Rudra</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the limitation of using later traditions to reconstruct earlier religious practices?

    <p>It may not be accurate to assume that earlier practices were similar to later ones</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of finding a bilingual inscription?

    <p>It would reveal the language spoken by the Harappans</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the current understanding of the Harappan economy?

    <p>It was based on a mixture of agriculture, trade, and craft production</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the depictions of plants on some Harappan seals?

    <p>They suggest a belief in nature worship</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the terracotta figurines of women?

    <p>They were regarded as mother goddesses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the current understanding of the social differences in the Harappan civilization?

    <p>There was a mixture of social classes and occupations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the fire altars found at Kalibangan and Lothal?

    <p>They were used for ritual purposes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the conical stone objects found at some Harappan sites?

    <p>They were classified as lingas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used by archaeologists for a group of objects, distinctive in style, that are usually found together within a specific geographical area and period of time?

    <p>Culture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the site where the unique culture of the Indus Valley Civilisation was first discovered?

    <p>Harappa</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the period from 2600 to 1900 BCE in the Indus Valley Civilisation?

    <p>Mature Harappan</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the 'Persian Gulf' seal found in Bahrain?

    <p>It shows the influence of Harappan motifs on other cultures</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the probable material used to make the Harappan seal?

    <p>Steatite</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the hoarding of objects, often made of metal, by people for reuse?

    <p>Hoard</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the citadel in the Harappan settlements?

    <p>It was a symbol of power and authority</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the probable reason for the destruction of Harappa?

    <p>Brick robbers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the discovery of similar seals at Mesopotamian sites?

    <p>It indicates trade and cultural exchange between the two civilizations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the dating system used in the book?

    <p>BP (Before Present)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary method used to detect occupations in archaeological sites?

    <p>By analyzing the layers of occupational debris</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the study of layers in archaeological sites?

    <p>Stratigraphy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of a shaman in ancient societies?

    <p>To communicate with the other world and possess magical and healing powers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of stones were used to make saddle querns in ancient Harappan sites?

    <p>Hard, gritty, igneous rock or sandstone</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the 'sterile layers' in archaeological sites?

    <p>They suggest the absence of occupations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary function of the sumps in the long drainage channels?

    <p>To facilitate the cleaning of the drains</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary reason archaeologists use present-day analogies to understand ancient artifacts?

    <p>To try and understand what ancient artifacts were used for</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the significance of the 'little heaps of material' found alongside the drainage channels?

    <p>They were a byproduct of the cleaning process</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the characteristic of the drains discovered in the ancient Harappan site of Mohenjodaro?

    <p>They were connected to every house in the city</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the material used to construct the drains at Lothal?

    <p>Burnt bricks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the 'curry stones' discovered in the ancient Harappan site of Mohenjodaro?

    <p>They were used for pounding herbs and spices for making curries</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of a saddle quern in ancient Harappan societies?

    <p>To process and grind food ingredients</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the condition of the human remains found in Deadman Lane?

    <p>Friable</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the stratigraphy of an archaeological site?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was R.E.M. Wheeler's theory about the destruction of the Indus Valley Civilization?

    <p>It was destroyed by a deliberate and large-scale destruction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was George Dales' conclusion about the skeletons found at Mohenjodaro?

    <p>They were from different periods and contexts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the purpose of the citadel in Mohenjodaro?

    <p>It was a fortified area for defense</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the significance of the Rigveda in the context of the Indus Valley Civilization?

    <p>It was a religious text that mentioned the civilization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the archaeologist's mistake in interpreting the skeletons found at Mohenjodaro?

    <p>They assumed the skeletons were from the same period</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the result of the re-examination of the data by archaeologists?

    <p>It led to a reversal of the earlier interpretations</p> Signup and view all the answers

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