Read the passage and answer the questions:
The Indus Valley Civilisation is also called the Harappan culture. Archaeologists use the term "culture" for a group of objects, distinctive in style that are usually found together within a specific geographical area and period of time. In the case of the Harappan culture, these distinctive objects include seals, beads, weights, stone blades and even baked bricks. These objects were found from areas as far as Afghanistan, Jammu, Baluchistan and Gujarat. Named after Harappa, the first site where this unique culture was discovered, the civilisation is dated between c.2600 and 1900 BCE.
Which of the following Harappan sites are NOT located in present-day India?
A. Harappa
B. Mohenjodaro
C. Dholavira
D. Chanhudaro
E. Lothal
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → A, B, D only
A. Harappa — Not in India. Harappa, the first site of this culture to be discovered, is one of the major known sites that became part of Pakistan with the partition of the subcontinent.
B. Mohenjodaro — Not in India. Mohenjodaro, the large planned city on the Indus, is also among the major sites that became part of Pakistan.
C. Dholavira — In India. Dholavira is in Gujarat; it is one of the sites found as Indian archaeologists tried to locate sites in India after partition.
D. Chanhudaro — Not in India. Chanhudaro, the tiny craft settlement close to Mohenjodaro on Map 1, lies in Sind, in Pakistan.
E. Lothal — In India. Lothal is in Gujarat.
Note: The book says that with the partition of the subcontinent the major known sites became part of Pakistan, but it does not name the present-day country of each site. Harappa lies in the Punjab province of Pakistan, and Mohenjodaro and Chanhudaro in its Sind province; this is explained here for the benefit of the students. The answer also follows from the book itself, which places Dholavira and Lothal in Gujarat.
NCERT (2026-27): “10.3 New techniques and questions … The frontiers of the Harappan civilisation have little or no connection with present-day national boundaries. However, with the partition of the subcontinent and the creation of Pakistan, the major known sites became part of Pakistan. This has spurred Indian archaeologists to try and locate sites in India. An extensive survey in Kutch has revealed a number of Harappan settlements and explorations in Punjab and Haryana have added to the list of Harappan sites. While Kalibangan, Lothal, Rakhi Garhi and most recently Dholavira have been discovered, explored and excavated as part of these efforts, fresh explorations continue.… 3.1 Laying out drains … While most Harappan settlements have a small high western part and a larger lower eastern section, there are variations. At sites such as Dholavira and Lothal (Gujarat), the entire settlement was fortified, and sections within the town were also separated by walls.…” |