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Questions and Answers
Which of the following sites is NOT mentioned in the context provided?
Which of the following sites is NOT mentioned in the context provided?
Which site is located closest to Rakhigarhi?
Which site is located closest to Rakhigarhi?
What can be inferred about the listed sites?
What can be inferred about the listed sites?
Which term is least relevant to the context provided?
Which term is least relevant to the context provided?
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Which of the following pairs of sites is geographically related?
Which of the following pairs of sites is geographically related?
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What type of artifacts might be found at the sites mentioned?
What type of artifacts might be found at the sites mentioned?
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Which of the following sites is known for early urban planning?
Which of the following sites is known for early urban planning?
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Which site is least likely to be associated with early agricultural practices?
Which site is least likely to be associated with early agricultural practices?
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What do archaeologists label the large building found at Mohenjodaro?
What do archaeologists label the large building found at Mohenjodaro?
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What term is used to describe the stone statue found at Mohenjodaro?
What term is used to describe the stone statue found at Mohenjodaro?
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According to some archaeologists, what was the social structure of Harappan society?
According to some archaeologists, what was the social structure of Harappan society?
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What evidence suggests that Harappan civilization might have had a single state?
What evidence suggests that Harappan civilization might have had a single state?
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What is suggested regarding the political power in Harappan society?
What is suggested regarding the political power in Harappan society?
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By c. 1800 BCE, what trend is observed regarding Mature Harappan sites?
By c. 1800 BCE, what trend is observed regarding Mature Harappan sites?
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In which regions did there appear to be an expansion of population following the abandonment of Mature Harappan sites?
In which regions did there appear to be an expansion of population following the abandonment of Mature Harappan sites?
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What were some structures in Harappan civilization likely created for?
What were some structures in Harappan civilization likely created for?
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What is one of the main theories about the decline of the Indus Civilization as mentioned in the content?
What is one of the main theories about the decline of the Indus Civilization as mentioned in the content?
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Who were the skeletons found at Mohenjodaro originally thought to indicate, according to R.E.M. Wheeler?
Who were the skeletons found at Mohenjodaro originally thought to indicate, according to R.E.M. Wheeler?
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What archaeological evidence did George Dales provide to challenge the massacre theory?
What archaeological evidence did George Dales provide to challenge the massacre theory?
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What does the term 'pur' in the Rigveda refer to, as discussed in the content?
What does the term 'pur' in the Rigveda refer to, as discussed in the content?
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Which site is mentioned as the biggest Harappan city that was investigated for its genetic history?
Which site is mentioned as the biggest Harappan city that was investigated for its genetic history?
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What was a significant finding about the burial contexts of the skeletons at Mohenjodaro according to George Dales?
What was a significant finding about the burial contexts of the skeletons at Mohenjodaro according to George Dales?
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Which aspect of the Indus Civilization is considered highly evolved based on the excavations at Harappa?
Which aspect of the Indus Civilization is considered highly evolved based on the excavations at Harappa?
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Which mythical figure did R.E.M. Wheeler accuse of being responsible for the destruction of the Indus Civilization?
Which mythical figure did R.E.M. Wheeler accuse of being responsible for the destruction of the Indus Civilization?
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Which object was classified as a mother goddess by early archaeologists?
Which object was classified as a mother goddess by early archaeologists?
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What is the 'proto-Shiva' seal known to represent?
What is the 'proto-Shiva' seal known to represent?
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The assumption that later traditions parallel earlier ones leads to speculation in archaeological interpretations of which type of symbols?
The assumption that later traditions parallel earlier ones leads to speculation in archaeological interpretations of which type of symbols?
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How is Rudra described in the Rigveda compared to later representations of Shiva?
How is Rudra described in the Rigveda compared to later representations of Shiva?
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What kind of animal is often depicted on seals along with the figure in a yogic posture?
What kind of animal is often depicted on seals along with the figure in a yogic posture?
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Which archaeological structures have been assigned ritual significance?
Which archaeological structures have been assigned ritual significance?
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What kind of objects are classified as lingas according to archaeological interpretations?
What kind of objects are classified as lingas according to archaeological interpretations?
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Why do archaeologists compare objects from the past to knowledge from the present?
Why do archaeologists compare objects from the past to knowledge from the present?
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What materials are mentioned as being used to create small cones possibly associated with the Harappan civilization?
What materials are mentioned as being used to create small cones possibly associated with the Harappan civilization?
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In which period did the Harappan civilization begin, according to the timeline?
In which period did the Harappan civilization begin, according to the timeline?
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Which archaeological activity is noted to have started first at Harappa?
Which archaeological activity is noted to have started first at Harappa?
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What major development occurred in Harappan archaeology in 1946?
What major development occurred in Harappan archaeology in 1946?
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Which one of the following civilizations is contemporaneous with the Harappan civilization according to the timeline?
Which one of the following civilizations is contemporaneous with the Harappan civilization according to the timeline?
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What was possibly another use of the small cones, apart from being lingas?
What was possibly another use of the small cones, apart from being lingas?
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In which year did Alexander Cunningham report on a Harappan seal?
In which year did Alexander Cunningham report on a Harappan seal?
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Which statement regarding the periods in early Indian archaeology is incorrect?
Which statement regarding the periods in early Indian archaeology is incorrect?
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Study Notes
Harappan Society and Power
- Archaeologists have found a large building in Mohenjodaro that they have labeled as a palace, but no spectacular finds have been found inside
- The building was labelled a "priest-king's palace" due to parallels with Mesopotamian history
- The Harappan civilization's ritual practices are not well understood, and it is unknown whether those who performed these rituals held political power
- Some archaeologists believe there were no rulers in the Harappan society, and that everyone enjoyed equal status
- Other archaeologists believe that there was no single ruler, but rather several, with each city having its own leader
- Still other archaeologists posit the existence of a single Harappan state, citing the uniformity of artifacts, planned settlements, standardized brick sizes, and the proximity of settlements to raw materials.
- Archaeologists have found structures with features that suggest they were built for utilitarian purposes
The End of the Harappan Civilization
- By around 1800 BCE, most Mature Harappan sites in regions like Cholistan had been abandoned
- During this period, population expanded into new settlements in Gujarat, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh
Problems of Interpreting Harappan Religion
- Archaeologists have interpreted religious practices based on objects they considered unusual or unfamiliar
- These artifacts include terracotta figurines of women, heavily jeweled and wearing elaborate head-dresses, which were regarded as mother goddesses
- Stone statues of men in a seated position with one hand on their knee, like the "priest-king", were also assigned religious significance
- Structures like the Great Bath and fire altars found at Kalibangan and Lothal have been interpreted as having ritual significance
- Seals have also been used to reconstruct religious beliefs and practices, with some depicting ritual scenes
- Seals with plant motifs are thought to indicate nature worship
- Animals depicted on seals, such as the one-horned animal, are often considered to be mythical creatures
- A figure seated cross-legged in a "yogic" posture, surrounded by animals, on some seals has been interpreted as a depiction of "proto-Shiva"
- Conical stone objects have been classified as "lingas"
- Many reconstructions of Harappan religion assume that later traditions provide parallels with earlier traditions
- The use of parallels between past and present traditions is plausible when examining stone querns and pots, but becomes more speculative when applied to religious symbols
- The "proto-Shiva" seals have been interpreted using parallels from later traditions, but the earliest religious text, the Rigveda, does not depict Rudra (a deity connected to Shiva in later traditions) in the same manner.
- Small conical stones made of lapis lazuli, jasper, chalcedony, and other materials are thought to be "lingas", but they might have also been used in board games
Archaeological Evidence and Harappan Economy
- Archaeological evidence has been used to reconstruct the Harappan economy
- The discovery of terracotta carts suggests wheeled transport was used
- Evidence of agriculture, including grain storage, indicates agriculture played a crucial role in the economy
- The discovery of tools and workshops points to specialized crafts and industries
Timeline of Harappan Archaeology
- Alexander Cunningham reported a Harappan seal in 1875
- Daya Ram Sahni began excavations at Harappa in 1921
- Excavations began at Mohenjodaro in 1922
- R.E.M. Wheeler excavated at Harappa in 1946
- S.R. Rao began excavations at Lothal in 1955
- B.B. Lal and B.K. Thapar started excavations at Kalibangan in 1960
- M.R. Mughal began explorations in Bahawalpur in 1974
- A team of German and Italian archaeologists began surface explorations at Mohenjodaro in 1980
- An American team began excavations at Harappa in 1986
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Description
Test your knowledge on the complex structure of Harappan society and its political dynamics. This quiz explores the theories surrounding leadership, societal organization, and archaeological findings related to the Harappan civilization. Discover how archaeology has interpreted the power dynamics of this ancient society.
