The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) was one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations, flourishing around 2500 BCE in the regions that are now Pakistan and northwest India. It is known for its advanced city planning, architecture, and social organization. The civilization had several major centers, all strategically located on riverbanks, which facilitated agriculture, trade, and communication. Here’s an overview of some of the key sites:
Harappa
Year of Excavation:
1921: Daya Ram Sahni
1926: Madho Swaroop Vatsa
1946: S.M. Wheeler
1856: A. Cunningham (initial discovery)
1986-90: R.H. Meadow
River/Region: Ravi River, Montgomery District of Punjab (now in Pakistan), between Lahore and Multan
Archaeological Findings:
Six granaries in a row
Grid-planned city
Coffin burial and Cemetery-H indicating alien people
Artifacts like the Virgin Goddess, stone symbols of Lingam and Yoni
Clay figures of the Mother Goddess, wheat and barley in wooden mortar, copper scale, dice, vanity box, copper-made mirror, and workmen’s quarters
Mohenjodaro (Nakhlistan, i.e., Oasis of Sindh)
Year of Excavation:
1922: R. D. Banerjee
1927: Mackay, E. J. H.
1930-31: Wheeler, S.M.
1947: S. J. Marshall
1964-66: G.F. Dales
River/Region: Indus River, Larkana District in Sindh (Pakistan)
Archaeological Findings:
City followed grid planning
Great Granary, Great Bath (largest building)
Assembly hall, shell strips, Pashupati Mahadev, bronze image of a nude woman dancer, steatite image of a bearded man
Human skeletons indicating invasion and massacre, painted seal (Demi God), clay figure of Mother Goddess
Chanhudaro
Year of Excavation:
1925: Mackay
1931: N. Gopal Majumdar
1935-36: E.J.H. Mackay
River/Region: Indus River, Nawabshah District in Sindh (Pakistan)
Archaeological Findings:
City without a citadel
Inkpot, lipstick, metal works, shell-ornament makers, bead makers, shops, dog’s paw imprint on a brick
Terracotta (bullock cart), bronze toy cart with created drivers
Kalibanga
Year of Excavation:
1951: Amalananda Ghosh
1961: B. B. Lal, B. K. Thapar, G. Dales, S.M. Wheeler
River/Region: Ghaggar River, Hanumangarh District, Rajasthan (India)
Archaeological Findings:
Shows both Pre-Harappan & Harappan phases
Furrowed land (Pre-Harappan)
07 fire altars, camel bones, wells, wheels of a toy cart, Mesopotamian cylindrical seal, gram, tiger-marked coin
Lothal
Year of Excavation: 1954-58: S. R. Rao
River/Region: Between Bhogava and Sabarmati Rivers, Ahmedabad District (Gujarat, India)
Archaeological Findings:
First manmade port in the world
Dockyard made of burnt bricks, painted jar (bird-fox), bead makers factory, rice husk, fire altars
A measuring scale, chess playing, terracotta figurines of a horse and a ship, double burial (male & female), dying vat, Persian/Iranian seal, Bharainean seal
Banwali
Year of Excavation: 1973: R.N. Bisht (Ravindra Nath Bisht)
River/Region: Ghaggar River, Hisar District, Haryana (India)
Archaeological Findings:
Shows both Pre-Harappan & Harappan phases
Toy plough, clay figures of Mother Goddess, good quantity of barley and rice
Lack of systematic drainage system
Surkotada
Year of Excavation: 1964: J. P. Joshi (Jagpati Joshi)
River/Region: Luni River, Kutchh District, Gujarat (India)
Archaeological Findings:
Bones of horses, bead-making shops, oval grave, pot burials
Sutkagendor
Year of Excavation:
1927: R.L. Stein
1962: George Dales
River/Region: Dasht River, Baluchistan (Pakistan)
Archaeological Findings:
Port city and trade point between Harappa and Babylon
Human bones, copper axe, an ash-filled pot
Amri
Year of Excavation:
1935: N.G. Majumdar
1959-61: J.M. Casal
River/Region: Indus River, Sindh (Pakistan)
Archaeological Findings: Evidence of antelope
Dholavira
Year of Excavation:
1967-68: J.P. Joshi
1985-90: R. N. Bisht
River/Region: Luni River, Rann of Kutchh, Gujarat (India)
Archaeological Findings:
Unique water management system
Largest site with a large well and a bath
Three parts of the city, seven cultural stages
Largest Harappan inscription used for civil purposes, a stadium
Rangpur
Year of Excavation:
1953: M. S. Vats
1955-57: B. B. Lal, S. R. Rao
River/Region: Mahar, Gujarat (India)
Archaeological Findings: Cultivation of rice
Kot Diji
Year of Excavation: 1955-57: Faizal Ahmed Khan
River/Region: Indus River, Sindh (Pakistan)
Archaeological Findings:
Wheel-made painted pottery, 16 layers of culture
Defensive wall and aligned streets
Metallurgy and artistic toys, 05 figurines of Mother Goddess
Ropar
Year of Excavation:
1955-56: Y.D. Sharma, S.S. Talwar, R.N. Bisht
River/Region: Sutlej River, Punjab (India)
Archaeological Findings:
Burying a dog with the master in a rectangular mud-brick chamber
Scented soil, five-fold cultures (Harappa, Kushan, Gupta, and Medieval)
Balakot
Year of Excavation:
1963-76: J.P. Joshi
1963-79: G.F. Dales
River/Region: Arabian Sea, Las Bela Valley (Pakistan)
Archaeological Findings:
Remains of Pre-Harappan & Harappan Civilization
Mounds (9.7 meters high, 2.8 square hectares in area)
Alamgirpur
Year of Excavation: 1958: Y. D. Sharma (Yagya Dutta)
River/Region: Hindon River, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (India)
Archaeological Findings:
Impression of cloth on a trough
Manda
Year of Excavation: 1975-76: J.P. Joshi & Madhu Bala
River/Region: Chenab River, Akhnoor (Jammu, India)
Archaeological Findings:
Copper pin, saddle querns
Ganweriwala
Excavator: Rafeeq Mugal
Region: Pakistan
Rakhi Garhi
Excavator: Rafeeq Mugal
Region: Jind, Haryana (India)
Here are 60 important MCQs based on the Indus Valley Civilization:
1. Which river was the city of Harappa located on?
a) Indus
b) Ravi
c) Ganges
d) Sutlej
Answer: b) Ravi
2. Who was the first archaeologist to excavate Harappa in 1921?
a) R. D. Banerjee
b) S. M. Wheeler
c) Daya Ram Sahni
d) Alexander Cunningham
Answer: c) Daya Ram Sahni
3. What significant feature was discovered at Harappa?
a) Great Bath
b) Six Granaries in a row
c) Dockyard
d) Fire Altars
Answer: b) Six Granaries in a row
4. The Great Bath was discovered at which Indus Valley site?
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Kalibanga
d) Lothal
Answer: b) Mohenjodaro
5. Which site is known for its unique water management system?
a) Harappa
b) Dholavira
c) Banwali
d) Kalibanga
Answer: b) Dholavira
6. Mohenjodaro is situated on the banks of which river?
a) Ravi
b) Ghaggar
c) Indus
d) Luni
Answer: c) Indus
7. Who excavated Mohenjodaro in 1922?
a) S. M. Wheeler
b) R. D. Banerjee
c) John Marshall
d) N. Gopal Majumdar
Answer: b) R. D. Banerjee
8. Which Indus Valley site was known as “Nakhlistan” or “Oasis of Sindh”?
a) Mohenjodaro
b) Harappa
c) Chanhudaro
d) Kalibanga
Answer: a) Mohenjodaro
9. The Dockyard was found at which Indus Valley site?
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Lothal
d) Dholavira
Answer: c) Lothal
10. Who was the archaeologist responsible for the excavation of Lothal?
a) R. D. Banerjee
b) S. R. Rao
c) S. M. Wheeler
d) B. B. Lal
Answer: b) S. R. Rao
11. Which Indus Valley site shows evidence of both Pre-Harappan and Harappan phases?
a) Harappa
b) Kalibanga
c) Mohenjodaro
d) Ropar
Answer: b) Kalibanga
12. Where was the Mesopotamian cylindrical seal found?
a) Lothal
b) Harappa
c) Kalibanga
d) Banwali
Answer: c) Kalibanga
13. Which site had a city layout without a citadel?
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Chanhudaro
d) Lothal
Answer: c) Chanhudaro
14. The city of Banwali was located near which river?
a) Indus
b) Ghaggar
c) Saraswati
d) Sutlej
Answer: b) Ghaggar
15. Surkotada is famous for the discovery of what remains?
a) Bronze sculpture
b) Bones of horses
c) Great Bath
d) Fire Altars
Answer: b) Bones of horses
16. The port city and trade point between Harappa and Babylon was:
a) Lothal
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Sutkagendor
d) Ropar
Answer: c) Sutkagendor
17. Who first excavated the site of Amri in 1935?
a) R. D. Banerjee
b) S. M. Wheeler
c) N.G. Majumdar
d) B. B. Lal
Answer: c) N.G. Majumdar
18. Which site is known for the largest Harappan inscription?
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Dholavira
d) Kalibanga
Answer: c) Dholavira
19. Which Indus Valley site was excavated by Y.D. Sharma in 1958?
a) Alamgirpur
b) Manda
c) Banwali
d) Kalibanga
Answer: a) Alamgirpur
20. The northernmost site of the Indus Valley Civilization was:
a) Lothal
b) Dholavira
c) Manda
d) Harappa
Answer: c) Manda
21. Which Indus Valley site is located in the Rann of Kutchh?
a) Surkotada
b) Dholavira
c) Banwali
d) Ropar
Answer: b) Dholavira
22. The burial of a dog with its master was found at:
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Ropar
d) Kalibanga
Answer: c) Ropar
23. The largest site of the Indus Valley Civilization in terms of area is:
a) Mohenjodaro
b) Harappa
c) Rakhigarhi
d) Lothal
Answer: c) Rakhigarhi
24. Evidence of rice cultivation was found at which site?
a) Lothal
b) Rangpur
c) Harappa
d) Kalibanga
Answer: b) Rangpur
25. Which Indus Valley site is located in modern-day Gujarat, India?
a) Harappa
b) Kalibanga
c) Lothal
d) Sutkagendor
Answer: c) Lothal
26. What artifact was found at Harappa indicating the presence of a possible cult?
a) Pashupati seal
b) Stone symbols of Lingam and Yoni
c) Bronze image of a dancing girl
d) Great Bath
Answer: b) Stone symbols of Lingam and Yoni
27. Who excavated the site of Banwali in 1973?
a) R.N. Bisht
b) S.R. Rao
c) J.P. Joshi
d) B.B. Lal
Answer: a) R.N. Bisht
28. The site of Sutkagendor was associated with which river?
a) Indus
b) Dasht
c) Ravi
d) Luni
Answer: b) Dasht
29. Which site provided evidence of camel bones?
a) Kalibanga
b) Lothal
c) Harappa
d) Ropar
Answer: a) Kalibanga
30. The evidence of metallurgy and artistic toys was found at:
a) Harappa
b) Kot Diji
c) Mohenjodaro
d) Chanhudaro
Answer: b) Kot Diji
31. Who first discovered the ruins of Harappa in 1856?
a) R. D. Banerjee
b) Alexander Cunningham
c) S. M. Wheeler
d) Daya Ram Sahni
Answer: b) Alexander Cunningham
32. Which site is located in the Las Bela Valley near the Arabian Sea?
a) Balakot
b) Harappa
c) Mohenjodaro
d) Dholavira
Answer: a) Balakot
33. The archaeological site of Manda is located in which state of India?
a) Gujarat
b) Punjab
c) Haryana
d) Jammu and Kashmir
Answer: d) Jammu and Kashmir
34. The “Great Granary” was discovered at which site?
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Kalibanga
d) Dholavira
Answer: b) Mohenjodaro
35. Which site was known for its evidence of pre-Harappan and Harappan phases?
a) Kalibanga
b) Banwali
c) Surkotada
d) Alamgirpur
Answer: b) Banwali
36. The use of a rectangular mud-brick chamber for burial was found at:
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Ropar
d) Sutkagendor
Answer: c) Ropar
37. The “Great Bath” was primarily used for:
a) Religious rituals
b) Public meetings
c) Administrative purposes
d) Storage of grains
Answer: a) Religious rituals
38. Which site revealed the remains of a stadium?
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Dholavira
d) Lothal
Answer: c) Dholavira
39. The site of Ganweriwala is located in which country?
a) India
b) Pakistan
c) Afghanistan
d) Bangladesh
Answer: b) Pakistan
40. The earliest evidence of cotton cultivation was found at: a) Harappa
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Banwali
d) Mehrgarh
Answer: d) Mehrgarh
41. The Indus Valley Civilization is also known as:
a) Vedic Civilization
b) Aryan Civilization
c) Harappan Civilization
d) Dravidian Civilization
Answer: c) Harappan Civilization
42. Which material was primarily used by the Indus Valley people to build their houses?
a) Stone
b) Wood
c) Mud-bricks
d) Metal
Answer: c) Mud-bricks
43. Which site is believed to have been a major manufacturing center for beads?
a) Lothal
b) Harappa
c) Kalibanga
d) Banwali
Answer: a) Lothal
44. The Pashupati seal, representing a proto-Shiva figure, was discovered at:
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Lothal
d) Kalibanga
Answer: b) Mohenjodaro
45. Which Indus Valley site shows evidence of the use of fire altars?
a) Harappa
b) Kalibanga
c) Mohenjodaro
d) Lothal
Answer: b) Kalibanga
46. The “Priest-King” statue was found at which site?
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Lothal
d) Dholavira
Answer: b) Mohenjodaro
47. Which of the following is not a feature of Indus Valley cities?
a) Grid-pattern town planning
b) Use of standardized bricks
c) Presence of large temples
d) Advanced drainage system
Answer: c) Presence of large temples
48. The “Dancing Girl” bronze statue was found at:
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Kalibanga
d) Lothal
Answer: b) Mohenjodaro
49. The evidence of a horse was found at which Indus Valley site?
a) Lothal
b) Surkotada
c) Harappa
d) Chanhudaro
Answer: b) Surkotada
50. Which of the following metals was unknown to the people of the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Gold
b) Copper
c) Iron
d) Bronze
Answer: c) Iron
51. The largest building discovered in Mohenjodaro is the:
a) Great Granary
b) Great Bath
c) Assembly Hall
d) Dockyard
Answer: a) Great Granary
52. The Indus Valley people were primarily:
a) Nomadic herders
b) Skilled artisans
c) Industrial workers
d) Farmers
Answer: d) Farmers
53. Which animal was not depicted on the Indus Valley seals?
a) Elephant
b) Tiger
c) Cow
d) Unicorn
Answer: c) Cow
54. The Indus Valley script remains undeciphered because:
a) It was a complex language
b) Lack of bilingual texts
c) It was a pictographic script
d) It was lost due to natural disasters
Answer: b) Lack of bilingual texts
55. The weights and measures system of the Indus Valley was based on:
a) Decimal system
b) Binary system
c) Quinary system
d) Duodecimal system
Answer: a) Decimal system
56. Which Indus Valley site has the evidence of a burial with a dog?
a) Ropar
b) Harappa
c) Kalibanga
d) Mohenjodaro
Answer: a) Ropar
57. The evidence of the earliest dockyard in the world was found at:
a) Harappa
b) Lothal
c) Dholavira
d) Mohenjodaro
Answer: b) Lothal
58. Which of the following is a feature of Harappan houses?
a) Circular structures
b) Thatched roofs
c) Flat-roofed buildings
d) Pillared verandas
Answer: c) Flat-roofed buildings
59. Which Indus Valley site is located in present-day Haryana, India?
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Kalibanga
d) Rakhi Garhi
Answer: d) Rakhi Garhi
60. The Indus Valley Civilization is believed to have declined due to:
a) Aryan invasion
b) Natural disasters
c) Economic collapse
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
2. Indus Civilization at a Glance (2500 B.C. – 1750 B.C.)
The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) is one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations, flourishing between 2500 B.C. and 1750 B.C. in the northwestern regions of South Asia, including present-day Pakistan and northwest India. Known for its advanced city planning, architecture, and social organization, this civilization is a remarkable testament to the ingenuity and achievements of ancient societies.
Key Highlights:
First Discovered Site: The first site of the Indus Valley Civilization was Harappa, discovered in 1921 by Daya Ram Sahni.
Oldest Name: The civilization is originally known as the Indus Civilization.
Most Suitable Geographical Name: Indus-Saraswat Civilization.
John Marshall’s Contribution: John Marshall was the first to use the term “Indus Civilization” in 1924, bringing international recognition to this ancient culture.
Important Sites of the Indus Civilization:
Northernmost Sites:
Ropar: Located on the Sutlej River in Punjab, Ropar is the northernmost site of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Manda: Situated on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir.
Southernmost Sites:
Bhagatrav: Located on the Kim River in Gujarat, it is one of the southernmost sites.
Daimabad: Located on the Pravara River in Maharashtra.
Easternmost Site:
Alamgirpur: Situated on the Hindon River in Uttar Pradesh, it is the easternmost site of the civilization.
Westernmost Site:
Sutkagendor: Located on the Dasht River along the Makran Coast, this is the westernmost site of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Major Nucleus Cities:
Harappa: One of the major cities in the north, along with Mohenjodaro, serving as one of the civilization’s capitals.
Mohenjodaro: The largest site and another capital city, located in the south.
Coastal Towns and Ports:
Lothal: Known for its dockyard, Lothal was a major coastal town and a significant port.
Sutkagendor, Balakot, Allahdino: Other important coastal sites.
Other Notable Sites:
Chanhudaro, Kotdiji, Surkotada, Desalpur, Rojdi, Manda, Ropar, Kalibangan, Banwali, Balu, Rakhi Garhi: These sites represent various other cities and townships within the Indus Valley Civilization.
Recent Discoveries:
Latest Site Discovered: Dholavira, a significant archaeological site in Gujarat.
Largest Indian Site: Rakhi Garhi in Haryana is the largest Indian site of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Sites in Afghanistan:
Shatughai and Mundigaq: Indus Valley sites found in Afghanistan, indicating the civilization’s extensive reach.
People and Cultural Connections:
Makers of the Civilization: The Indus Valley Civilization is believed to have been built by the Dravidian people.
Contemporary Civilizations: The Indus Valley Civilization existed alongside other ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia (along the Tigris and Euphrates), the Nile in Egypt, and China’s civilizations along the Yellow (Huang He) and Yangtze (Yangzi) Rivers.
Trade: The entry port for trade between the Indus Valley and Mesopotamia was Bahrain, with close commercial and cultural contacts established with regions such as Sumer, Elam, Mesopotamia, Iran, Bahrain, and Central Asia.
Trade Routes:
Northern Route: Connected North Iran and the Oxus region with Kabul and the central reaches of the Indus.
Southern Route: Linked central and southern Iran with Kandahar, northern Baluchistan, and the more southern regions of the Indus Valley.
Technological and Cultural Aspects:
Belonging to the Chalcolithic or Bronze Age: The Indus Valley Civilization is part of the Chalcolithic or Bronze Age, characterized by the use of copper (“Chalco” means copper, “lithic” means stone) and stone tools.
Heartland: The heartland of the civilization was the Harappa-Ghaggar-Mohenjodaro axis, where the most significant developments in culture and technology took place.
Urban Planning and Architecture:
Grid System: Cities were planned using a grid system, with well-organized streets and a sophisticated underground drainage system.
Fortified Citadels: Most cities had fortified citadels, though Chanhudaro was an exception.
Use of Burnt Bricks: Burnt bricks were widely used for construction, including dwelling houses with kitchens, bathrooms, and toilets.
Public Buildings: The cities also had large public buildings such as assembly halls, granaries, public baths, and possibly palaces.
Agriculture:
Main Crops: The Indus people primarily cultivated wheat and barley, with evidence of rice found only in Lothal and Rangpur. Other crops included mustard, sesame, and cotton, with the civilization being the first in the world to produce cotton.
Fruits: Common fruits included coconut, dates, pomegranate, watermelon, and lemon.
Fauna:
Domestic and Wild Animals: The Indus Valley Civilization had a rich variety of domestic and wild animals, including sheep, buffalo, goat, dog, cat, pig, fowl, deer, tortoise, bull (both humped and humpless), camel, elephant, tiger, and rhinoceros.
Not Acquainted with Lions: The people were not familiar with lions, and traces of horses were rarely discovered. Surkotada in Gujarat is the only site where horse remains have been found.
Camel Bones: Camel bones were reported at Kalibangan, and a single instance of the Indian rhinoceros was reported at Amri. Elephant remains were found at Rojdi in Saurashtra.
Trade and Commerce:
Foreign Trade: The Indus Valley Civilization had extensive trade relations with Mesopotamia (Sumeria), Bahrain, and other regions, exchanging goods such as beads, pottery, metals, and textiles.
The Indus Valley Civilization, with its advanced urban planning, thriving trade, and rich cultural heritage, stands as one of the greatest achievements of ancient human civilization. Despite its decline around 1750 B.C., the legacy of this civilization continues to influence the study of history and archaeology.
40 Important MCQs about the Indus Civilization
1.Who discovered the first site of the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) R. D. Banerji
b) Daya Ram Sahni
c) John Marshall
d) Mortimer Wheeler
Answer: b) Daya Ram Sahni
2.In which year was the first site of the Indus Valley Civilization discovered?
a) 1920
b) 1921
c) 1922
d) 1923
Answer: b) 1921
3.Which is the oldest name given to the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Harappan Civilization
b) Saraswat Civilization
c) Indus Civilization
d) Mohenjodaro Civilization
Answer: c) Indus Civilization
4.What is the most suitable geographical name for the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Harappan Civilization
b) Indus-Saraswat Civilization
c) Indus-Ghaggar Civilization
d) Mohenjodaro Civilization
Answer: b) Indus-Saraswat Civilization
5.Who was the first to use the term “Indus Civilization”?
a) Alexander Cunningham
b) Daya Ram Sahni
c) John Marshall
d) R. D. Banerji
Answer: c) John Marshall
6.Which site is considered the northernmost of the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Kalibangan
b) Ropar
c) Mohenjodaro
d) Lothal
Answer: b) Ropar
7.Which site is situated on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir?
a) Harappa
b) Manda
c) Rakhigarhi
d) Alamgirpur
Answer: b) Manda
8.Which site is located on the Kim River in Gujarat?
a) Dholavira
b) Bhagatrav
c) Lothal
d) Daimabad
Answer: b) Bhagatrav
9.Which site is considered the southernmost of the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Lothal
b) Daimabad
c) Bhagatrav
d) Sutkagendor
Answer: b) Daimabad
10.Which site is the easternmost in the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Alamgirpur
b) Kalibangan
c) Surkotada
d) Ropar
Answer: a) Alamgirpur
11.Which site is the westernmost in the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Lothal
b) Sutkagendor
c) Harappa
d) Chanhudaro
Answer: b) Sutkagendor
12.Which site is known for being the largest in the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Harappa
b) Dholavira
c) Mohenjodaro
d) Rakhigarhi
Answer: c) Mohenjodaro
13.Which is the largest Indian site of the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Harappa
b) Lothal
c) Kalibangan
d) Rakhigarhi
Answer: d) Rakhigarhi
14.Where was the latest Harappan site discovered?
a) Kalibangan
b) Rakhigarhi
c) Dholavira
d) Mohenjodaro
Answer: c) Dholavira
15.Which civilization was contemporary to the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Egyptian Civilization
b) Chinese Civilization
c) Mesopotamian Civilization
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
16.Which country today contains sites like Shatughai and Mundigaq, linked to the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) India
b) Pakistan
c) Afghanistan
d) Iran
Answer: c) Afghanistan
17.The Indus Valley Civilization is believed to have been built by which people?
a) Aryans
b) Dravidians
c) Egyptians
d) Sumerians
Answer: b) Dravidians
18.Which region was connected by the northern trade route of the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) South Iran and Baluchistan
b) North Iran and the Oxus region
c) Sumer and Bahrain
d) Central Asia and Mesopotamia
Answer: b) North Iran and the Oxus region
19.Which region was connected by the southern trade route of the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Central and South Iran with Kandahar
b) North Iran and Kabul
c) Mesopotamia and Elam
d) Harappa and Mohenjodaro
Answer: a) Central and South Iran with Kandahar
20.To which age does the Indus Valley Civilization belong?
a) Neolithic
b) Chalcolithic or Bronze Age
c) Iron Age
d) Stone Age
Answer: b) Chalcolithic or Bronze Age
21.What was the heartland of the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Indus-Ganges axis
b) Harappa-Ghaggar-Mohenjodaro axis
c) Sutlej-Yamuna axis
d) Ganga-Brahmaputra axis
Answer: b) Harappa-Ghaggar-Mohenjodaro axis
22.Which city planning feature was common in the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Circular streets
b) Underground drainage system
c) Wooden houses
d) Stone temples
Answer: b) Underground drainage system
23.Which Indus Valley site is known for its dockyard?
a) Harappa
b) Lothal
c) Mohenjodaro
d) Kalibangan
Answer: b) Lothal
24.Which material was predominantly used for construction in the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Wood
b) Stone
c) Burnt bricks
d) Mud
Answer: c) Burnt bricks
25.Which crops were primarily cultivated by the people of the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Rice and maize
b) Wheat and barley
c) Cotton and sugarcane
d) Oats and millet
Answer: b) Wheat and barley
26.Which Indus Valley site provides evidence of rice cultivation?
a) Harappa and Mohenjodaro
b) Kalibangan and Chanhudaro
c) Lothal and Rangpur
d) Sutkagendor and Rakhigarhi
Answer: c) Lothal and Rangpur
27.Which fruit was common in the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Apple
b) Coconut
c) Mango
d) Banana
Answer: b) Coconut
28.Which domestic animal was NOT familiar to the people of the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Horse
b) Camel
c) Lion
d) Elephant
Answer: c) Lion
29.At which Indus Valley site were horse remains discovered?
a) Harappa
b) Surkotada
c) Mohenjodaro
d) Lothal
Answer: b) Surkotada
30.Which animal remains were found at Kalibangan?
a) Elephant
b) Camel
c) Rhino
d) Lion
Answer: b) Camel
31.Which Indus Valley site is known for its public bath?
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Lothal
d) Kalibangan
Answer: b) Mohenjodaro
32.What was the entry port for trade between the Indus Valley and Mesopotamia?
a) Oman
b) Bahrain
c) Qatar
d) Kuwait
Answer: b) Bahrain
33.What was the main material used in making tools during the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Iron
b) Bronze
c) Stone
d) Copper
Answer: d) Copper
34.Which site is located near the Makran Coast?
a) Lothal
b) Sutkagendor
c) Chanhudaro
d) Banwali
Answer: b) Sutkagendor
35.Which city is referred to as the “City of Dead”?
a) Mohenjodaro
b) Harappa
c) Lothal
d) Rakhigarhi
Answer: a) Mohenjodaro
36.Which Indus Valley site is known for its unique fire altars and ploughed field evidence?
a) Harappa
b) Kalibangan
c) Mohenjodaro
d) Lothal
Answer: b) Kalibangan
37.Which Indus Valley site is known for evidence of bead-making and shell-working industries?
a) Harappa
b) Chanhudaro
c) Mohenjodaro
d) Rakhigarhi
Answer: b) Chanhudaro
38.Which Indus Valley site is located in present-day Gujarat and is famous for its intricate town planning?
a) Dholavira
b) Lothal
c) Kalibangan
d) Surkotada
Answer: a) Dholavira
39.Which modern-day country contains the majority of the sites of the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) India
b) Pakistan
c) Afghanistan
d) Iran
Answer: b) Pakistan
40.What was one of the primary reasons for the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Invasion by Aryans
b) Environmental changes
c) Decline in trade with Mesopotamia
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
