Archaeo-botanists are specialised in ____________.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Ancient plant remains
Archaeologists work out what the Harappans ate from the charred grains and seeds found at their sites. These remains are studied by archaeo-botanists, who are specialists in ancient plant remains. Their work shows that the Harappans grew wheat, barley, lentil, chickpea and sesame, with millets in Gujarat and rice only rarely.
Animal bones are a different field: they are studied by archaeo-zoologists or zooarchaeologists, who found that cattle, sheep, goat, buffalo and pig were domesticated.
NCERT (2025-26): “2. Subsistence Strategies … The Harappans ate a wide range of plant and animal products, including fish. Archaeologists have been able to reconstruct dietary practices from finds of charred grains and seeds. These are studied by archaeo-botanists, who are specialists in ancient plant remains.… 2.1 Agricultural technologies … Animal bones found at Harappan sites include those of cattle, sheep, goat, buffalo and pig. Studies done by archaeo-zoologists or zooarchaeologists indicate that these animals were domesticated.…” |