Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

History

Chapter

Ancient India: Bricks, Beads and Bones

Question:

Read the passage and answer the question:

Harappan seals usually have a line of writing, probably containing the name and title of the owner. Scholars have also suggested that the motif (generally an animal) conveyed a meaning to those who could not read.

Most inscriptions are short, the longest containing about 26 signs. Although the script remains undeciphered to date, it was evidently not alphabetical (where each sign stands for a vowel or a consonant) as it has just too many signs-somewhere between 375 and 400. It is apparent that the script was written from right to left as some seals show a wider spacing on the right and cramping on the left, as if the engraver began working from the right and then ran out of space.

Consider the variety of objects on which writing has been found: seals, copper tools, rims of jars, copper and terracotta tablets, jewellery, bone rods, even an ancient signboard!

What is 'enigmatic' in the Harappan Civilisation?

Options:

Rims of jars

Script

Motifs

Engraver

Correct Answer:

Script

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (2) → Script

The Harappan scripts are enigmatic:

An enigmatic script:

Harappan seals usually have a line of writing, probably containing the name and title of the owner. Scholars have also suggested that the motif (generally an animal) conveyed a meaning to those who could not read.