Match List I with List II:
| List I | List II | ||
| (A) | Lapis Lazuli | (I) | South India |
| (B) | Carnelian | (II) | Afghanistan |
| (C) | Gold | (III) | Gujarat |
| (D) | Haja-bird | (IV) | Meluhha |
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → (A)-(II), (B)-(III), (C)-(I), (D)-(IV)
(A) Lapis Lazuli — this matches (II) Afghanistan. The Harappans set up a settlement at Shortughai, in far-off Afghanistan, near the best source of lapis lazuli, a blue stone that was very highly valued.
(B) Carnelian — this matches (III) Gujarat. Lothal lay near sources of carnelian, which came from Bharuch in Gujarat.
(C) Gold — this matches (I) South India. The Harappans probably sent expeditions to the Khetri region of Rajasthan for copper and to south India for gold.
(D) Haja-bird — this matches (IV) Meluhha. A Mesopotamian myth says of Meluhha, possibly the Harappan region: “May your bird be the haja-bird, may its call be heard in the royal palace.” Some archaeologists think the haja-bird was the peacock.
NCERT (2026-27): “6.1 Materials from the subcontinent and beyond … The Harappans procured materials for craft production in various ways. For instance, they established settlements such as Nageshwar and Balakot in areas where shell was available. Other such sites were Shortughai, in far-off Afghanistan, near the best source of lapis lazuli, a blue stone that was apparently very highly valued, and Lothal which was near sources of carnelian (from Bharuch in Gujarat), steatite (from south Rajasthan and north Gujarat) and metal (from Rajasthan). Another strategy for procuring raw materials may have been to send expeditions to areas such as the Khetri region of Rajasthan (for copper) and south India (for gold).… 6.2 Contact with distant lands … In this context, it is worth noting that Mesopotamian texts mention contact with regions named Dilmun (probably the island of Bahrain), Magan and Meluhha, possibly the Harappan region. They mention the products from Meluhha: carnelian, lapis lazuli, copper, gold, and varieties of wood. A Mesopotamian myth says of Meluhha: ‘May your bird be the haja-bird, may its call be heard in the royal palace.’ Some archaeologists think the haja-bird was the peacock.…” |