Read the passage and answer the question:
IDENTIFYING CENTRES OF PRODUCTION
In order to identify centres of craft production, archaeologists usually look for the following: raw materials such as stone, nodules, whole shells, copper ore, tools, unfinished objects, rejects and waste material. In fact, waste is one of the best indicators of craft work. For instance, if shell or stone is cut to make objects, then pieces of these materials will be discarded as waste at the place of production. Sometimes, larger waste pieces were used up to make smaller objects, but minuscule bits were usually left in the work area. These traces suggest that apart from small, specialised centres, craft production was also undertaken in large cities such as Mohenjodaro and Harappa.
How do archaeologists identify centres of craft production?
(A) Through raw material.
(B) Through strategies for procuring material.
(C) Through unfinished objects.
(D) Through techniques.
(E) By processing.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → (A) and (C) only
(A) Through raw material. Correct. To identify centres of craft production, archaeologists look for raw material such as stone nodules, whole shells and copper ore.
(B) Through strategies for procuring material. Incorrect. Strategies for procuring materials explain how the Harappans obtained stone, timber and metal, many of which had to be brought from outside the alluvial plain. They do not show where the objects were made.
(C) Through unfinished objects. Correct. Unfinished objects are on the archaeologists’ list, along with tools, rejects and waste material.
(D) Through techniques. Incorrect. Techniques tell us how objects were made; for instance, techniques for making beads differed according to the material. They are not the remains that mark a place of production.
(E) By processing. Incorrect. Processing is the working of a material into a finished object. The evidence archaeologists look for at a site is the raw material, tools, unfinished objects, rejects and waste.
NCERT (2026-27): “5.1 Identifying centres of production … In order to identify centres of craft production, archaeologists usually look for the following: raw material such as stone nodules, whole shells, copper ore; tools; unfinished objects; rejects and waste material. In fact, waste is one of the best indicators of craft work. For instance, if shell or stone is cut to make objects, then pieces of these materials will be discarded as waste at the place of production.… 6. Strategies for Procuring Materials … As is obvious, a variety of materials was used for craft production. While some such as clay were locally available, many such as stone, timber and metal had to be procured from outside the alluvial plain.…” |