General Studies

Excavation of the Harappa Origins Life and Death in the Indus Valley The Fall of the Indus Valley Civilization and the Rise of Two Ancient Great Civilizations Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were located in the Punjab and Sindh provinces of present-day Pakistan. The city originated around 2600 BC and was abandoned around 1700 BC. Here is some information about it

1. Mohenjo-Daro is located in which district?
   Ans: Larkana district of the Sindh province, Pakistan. It is on the right (west) bank of the Indus River.
2. Harappa is situated in which district?
   Ans: Harappa is located in the Montgomery district (now Sahiwal district) of Punjab province, Pakistan. It is located on the banks of the Ravi River.
3. In which time period Indus Valley Civilization developed?
   Ans: 3000-1500 B.C.
4. Mohenjo-Daro was located on the bank of which river?
   Ans: Sindhu River.
5. Harappa was situated on the bank of which river?
   Ans: Ravi River.
6. Lothal was situated on the bank of which river?
   Ans: Bhogwa river, a tributary of the Sabarmati river.
7. Ropar was situated on the bank of which river?
   Ans: Sutlej River.
8. Kalibangan was situated on the bank of which river?
   Ans: Ghaggar.
9. Which was the entry port for trade between the Indus Valley civilization and Mesopotamia?
   Ans: Lothal.
10. Which God is not worshipped in Indus Valley Civilization (IVC)?
    Ans: Indra.
11. What did the Indus Civilization worship?
    Ans: Pashupati or the Proto-Shiva.
12. How many granaries were there in Harappa?
    Ans: Six (6).
13. The polity of the Indus Valley people was ruled by whom?
    Ans: Merchants or traders and priests.
14. Who discovered Harappa?
    Ans: Daya Ram Sahani discovered Harappan Civilization in 1921.                      
15. When did Harappan Civilization flourish?
    Ans: Around 2500 BC – 1750 BC.
16. Harappan Civilization is based on which type of civilization?
    Ans: Urban-based Civilization. It is also a Bronze-age Civilization.
17. What are the four largest Harappan settlements in the Ind-Pak Subcontinent?
    Ans: Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, Dholavira, and Rakhigarhi.
18. Who discovered the Indus Valley Civilization?
    Ans: Sir John Marshall.                                                                                      
19. Where have the largest number of Harappan sites in post-independence India been discovered?
    Ans: Gujarat. Important sites include Lothal, Dholavira, Rangpur, and Surkotada.
20. What are the distinguishing features of the Harappan civilization from other contemporary civilizations of the world?
    Ans:

i) Advanced Urban Planning such as:
a) advanced drainage system;
b) standardized weight and measures;
c) burnt bricks.
ii) Absence of palaces and temples.
iii) Granaries and fortifications.
iv) The Great Bath.
v) Seals, etc.

21. What is the Yogi of the Harappan seals?
    Ans: The Yogi figure on Harappan seals depicted with a three horned cap and surrounded by animals is widely identified as a “proto-Shiva” or “Pashupati” deity who is Hindu god Shiva, the “Lord of Animals”.
22. Rice cultivation is associated with which Harappan site?
    Ans: Lothal.
23. Which Harappan site is known for ship building?
    Ans: Lothal.
24. Harappan civilization belongs to which period of human history?
    Ans: Bronze Age Civilization.
25. The Harappan civilization was discovered in which year?
    Ans: 1921                                                                                                     [SSC Grad, 2004]
26. The famous figure of a dancing girl found in the excavation of Mohenjo-Daro was made up of?
    Ans: Bronze.                                                                                                     [RRB TC, 2006]
27. The local name of Mohenjo-Daro is –
    Ans: Mound of the Dead.                                                            [RRB Supervisor / IESM, 2006]
28. The Indus Valley people traded with the –
    Ans: Mesopotamians.                                                                                     [SCRA, 2000]
29. Out of the following remain excavated in Indus valley, which one indicates commercial and economic development?
    Ans: Seals.                                                                                                   [CPO SI, 2002]
30. The people of the Indus Valley civilization usually built their houses of –
    Ans: Pucca bricks.                                                                               [SSC Sec. off (Aud), 2008]
31. Which of the following animals was not known to the Indus valley civilization?
    Ans: Giraffe.                                                                                                   [Delhi Unit B.Ed, 2009]
32. The earliest city discovered in India was –
    Ans: Harappa.                                                                                                   [CPO SI, 2003]
33. Cotton for textile was first cultivated in –
    Ans: India.                                                                                                     [UP PCS (P), 2006]
34. Which Indus valley civilization site gave evidence of a dockyard?
    Ans: Lothal.                                                                                                     [CDS, 2007, 2008]
35. Rock cut architecture in Harappan culture context has been found at –
    Ans: Dholavira.                                                                                               [UP PCS (P), 2006]
36. The Indus valley civilization was Non-Aryan because –
    Ans: It was urban.                                                                       [RRB Supervisor / IESM, 2006]
37. The archaeological evidence found from Alamgirpur in Ghaziabad district belongs to which culture?
    Ans: Harappa Culture.
38. The Indus valley civilization specialized in –
    Ans: Town planning.                                                                 [RRB Supervisor / IESM, 2006]
39. An advanced water management system of Harappan times has been unearthed at –
    Ans: Dholavira.                                                                                              [46th BPSC, 2004]
40. A copper chariot of Harappan times was discovered at –
    Ans: Daimabad.                                                                                            [MP PSC (P), 2009]
41. From which place remains of walls have been found in houses belonging to the developed stage of the Indus valley civilization?
    Ans: Mohenjo-Daro.                                                                                      [UP PCS (P), 2004]
42. From where was the famous Bull seal of Indus Valley civilization found?
    Ans: Harappa.                                                                                               [RAS/RTS, 2008]
43. In the Mesopotamian records, which term was used for the Indus Valley (Harappans)?
    Ans: Meluha.                                                                                                [NDA II, 2017]
44. Which animal was not represented on the seals and terracotta art of the Harappan culture?
    Ans: Cow.                                                                                    [UPSC 2001; SSC Grad. 2005]
45. The main characteristic of the Indus Valley Civilization was –
    Ans: Drainage System.                                                                            [Teachers Exam, 1993]
46. The Indus-Valley civilization is known as Pre-Aryan civilization because of the evidence of –
    Ans: Script.                                                                                                   [C.D.S, 1989]
47. Nomad man started settling in –
    Ans: Neolithic Age.                                                                                          [C.R.P.F, 1990]
48. The main occupation of the people of the Indus Valley civilization was –
    Ans: Agriculture.                                                                            [Stenographer’s Exam, 1994]
49. The Great Bath of the Indus Valley civilization was discovered in –
    Ans: Mohenjo-Daro.
50. Which are the characteristics of the religion practiced by Harappan people?
    Ans:

a) Worship of Mother Goddess.
b) Faith in magic, charms and sacrifices.
c) Belief in life after death.

51. In which age men used both stones and copper tools?
    Ans: Metal Age.
52. Which metal was not known to Indus Valley people?
    Ans: Iron.
53. The Harappan site showing evidence of two cultural phases, Harappan and Pre-Harappan is –
    Ans: Kalibangan.                                                                                         [I.E.S, 1993]
54. The script of the Harappan people consisted of –
    Ans: A family of quasi-pictographic writings.
55. In which age did man pass from the food gathering stage to the food producing stage?
    Ans: Neolithic Age.
56. The earliest evidence of silver in India is found in the –
    Ans: Harappan Culture.                                                                              [I.A.S, 1994]
57. The Indus Valley people knew the uses of which metals?
    Ans: Gold, silver, copper, bronze but they did not know the uses of iron.
58. Which was the greatest invention of man in Palaeolithic age?
    Ans: Fire.
59. At which places have excavations in recent years brought to light new evidence of Neolithic sites in India?
    Ans: Hamren in Assam.                                                                             [Railways, 1993]
60. Knowledge about existence of which animals is doubtful in the Indus Valley civilization?
    Ans: Cat.                                                                                            [I. Tax & Central Excise, 1989]
61. Where have Palaeolithic remains been discovered?
    Ans: Bellary.
62. The Indus Valley civilization belongs to which age?
    Ans: Neolithic Age.                                                                                 [I.E.S, 1994]
63. At which Harappan site have traces of a horse been found?
    Ans: Surkotda.
64. Indus Valley civilization was spread over –
    Ans: Sind, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, U.P, Rajasthan, Gujarat.
65. Indus Valley civilization is also known as Harappan culture because –
    Ans: The most important evidence of the achievements of this civilization have been excavated from Harappa.            [I.A.S, 1994]
66. Which animals were domesticated by the Harappans?
    Ans: Buffalo, Sheep, Dog, Pig.                                                                                         [I.E.S, 1991]
67. The tools and weapons of Harappan civilization were mostly made of –
    Ans: Copper and Bronze.                                                                                           [C.B.I, 1990]
68. The main channels of our knowledge about the Indus Valley civilization are –
    Ans: Archaeological excavations.                                                                         [Central Excise, 1994]
69. From where have the remains of a stadium been excavated?
    Ans: Lothal.
70. The Great Granary of the Indus Valley civilization has been discovered at –
    Ans: Harappa.                                                                                             [I.A.S, 1994]
71. The Stone Age people had the first domestic –
    Ans: Sheep.
72. With which country are there similarities between the seals found at Mohenjo-Daro?
    Ans: Sumeria.
73. Near the banks of which river have recent excavations brought to light that Indus Valley civilization percolated far south?
    Ans: Krishna.
74. Where is Kalibangan situated?
    Ans: Kalibangan, a site associated with Harappan culture, is situated in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan, India.
75. What was the profession of the Harappan civilization?
    Ans: Agriculture.
76. For what is Harappa famous?
    Ans: For its advanced urban planning, including well-planned streets, drainage systems, and standardized weight and measures.
77. Harappan ornaments were made of which materials?
    Ans: Gold, Silver, Copper, Bronze, Precious Stones, ivory, and shell.
78. Which Harappan site is located on the Iranian border?
    Ans: Sutkagen Dor. It is situated on the Makran Coast of Baluchistan, Pakistan.
79. How many signs are in a Harappan Script?
    Ans: Around 400 to 600 distinct signs.
80. Which script is similar to the Harappan script?
    Ans: Brahmi and Tamil-Brahmi Script.
81. What are the phases of Indus Valley civilization?
    Ans:

i) Early Harappan phase (c. 3300-2600 BCE)
ii) Mature Harappan phase (c. 2600-1900 BCE)
iii) Late Harappan phase (c. 1900-1300 BCE)

82. Where have fire altars been discovered?
    Ans: Lothal and Kalibangan. The worship of fire is proved by the discovery of fire altars.
83. At which sites of Indus Valley civilization have the rows of distinctive fire altars with provision of ritual bathing been found?
    Ans: Kalibangan and Lothal.
84. Garments of Indus Valley people were usually made of which materials?
    Ans: Cotton and Wool.
85. What are the four largest Harappan settlements in the Indo-Pak Sub-Continent?
    Ans:

i) Harappa;
ii) Mohenjo-Daro;
iii) Dholavira;
iv) Rakhigarhi.

86. What was the most important crop in the Indus Valley civilization?
    Ans: Wheat and Barley.
87. What were the houses of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa like?
    Ans: Square or rectangular shaped. Built with pucca bricks, often with multiple stories and courtyards, and wall-planned drainage system which is connected to streets.
88. Harappan people used which material for making common household utensils?
    Ans: Clay is used for making pottery and other household utensils. Metals like copper and bronze and materials like stone and shell are also used.
89. When was the existence of the Indus Valley civilization revealed?
    Ans: In 1924 when Sir John Marshall announced the discovery of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.
90. At which Harappan site have traces of horses been found?
    Ans: Surkotda site in Gujarat.
91. Which is the largest Harappan site discovered in India?
    Ans: Morodharo, near Dholavira in Gujarat.
92. What is the name of Harappa in Rig Veda?
    Ans: Hariyupia.
93. Why is India called Meluha?
    Ans: The Mesopotamians referred to the Indus Valley as “Meluha”.
94. A stadium is found in which Harappan site?
    Ans: Dholavira.
95. Where are the sites of Jorwe culture?
    Ans: Daimabad, Inamgaon, and Prakash.
96. Where is Ahar culture found?
    Ans: The Ahar culture is a Chalcolithic archaeological culture, also known as the Banas culture. It is found on the banks of the Ahar River in the southeastern part of Rajasthan.
97. What are the sites of Chalcolithic culture?
    Ans: Ahar or Banas, Malwa, Jorwe, and Kayatha.
98. What are the sites of Malwa Chalcolithic culture?
    Ans: Malwa culture flourished during the Chalcolithic period. Major sites were Navdatoli, Nagda, Kayatha, Eran, Inamgaon, Daimabad.
99. Who discovered Mohenjo-Daro?
    Ans: Rakhal Das Bandopadhya.
100. How did the Harappan people dispose of their dead bodies?
     Ans: Harappan people practiced burial rituals like complete, fractional, and post–cremation burials.
101. The Indus Valley civilization is about how many years old?
     Ans: Indus Valley civilization flourished around 5000 years ago.
102. Which are the prominent characteristics of the Indus Valley civilization?
     Ans:

i) Advanced Urban Planning
ii) Drainage System
iii) Standardized Weights and Measures

103. How were the Harappan towns and cities divided?
     Ans: Harappan towns and cities were divided into large rectangular blocks by a grid system of intersecting roads.
104. What were the imports of Indus Valley civilization?
     Ans:

i) Minerals from Iran and Afghanistan
ii) Jade from China
iii) Lead and copper from other parts of India
iv) Cedarwood from the Himalayas and Kashmir region
v) Lapis Lazuli and turquoise from Iran
vi) Amethyst from Maharashtra

105. The Indus Valley people venerated or worshipped which animals?
     Ans: Bull, tiger, rhinoceros, and elephant.
106. Along with Mohenjo-Daro, name which other site of Indus Valley civilization is meant “The mound of the dead”?
     Ans: Lothal (In Gujarati Lothal means “mound of the dead”).
107. Which is the southernmost site of Indus Valley civilization?
     Ans: Daimabad. It was discovered in 1958.
108. On which river bank is Banawali?
     Ans: Sarasvati.
109. Who discovered Mehrgarh?
     Ans: In 1974 French archaeologists Jean-Francois Jarrige and Catherine Jarrige.
110. On which river bank is Mehrgarh situated?
     Ans: Mehrgarh is a Neolithic site located near the Bolan Pass, Balochistan, Pakistan. It is on the west bank of the Bolan River.
111. Which was the first site excavated in India after independence?
     Ans: Kalibangan (Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan). It is situated on the banks of Ghaggar River.
112. Name the seven animals surrounding the yogi in the seal?
     Ans: An elephant, a tiger, a buffalo, a rhinoceros, and two deer.
113. Naksh-i-Rustam inscription is associated with which king?
     Ans: Darius the Great.
114. Kuntasi, an archaeological site of Indus Valley civilization is situated on the bank of which river?
     Ans: Phulki River.
115. Where do we find Paleolithic settlements in India?
     Ans:

i) Belan Valley in Uttar Pradesh
ii) Bhimbetka and Adamgarh in Madhya Pradesh
iii) Hunsgi in Karnataka
iv) Attirampakkam in Tamil Nadu

116. In which place was the tusk of an elephant found?
     Ans: Southern Israel.
117. What is boustrophedon style of writing?
     Ans: In this writing style, the first line is written from left to right and the second line is written from right to left and so on.