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Difficulty: HardAncient Indian Civilizations and Early Empires

With reference to the urban planning and archaeological findings of the Harappan Civilization, consider the following statements:

1. Dholavira in Gujarat is uniquely characterized by its tripartite division into a citadel, a middle town, and a lower town, alongside a sophisticated water conservation and reservoir system.
2. Kalibangan in Rajasthan has yielded evidence of a ploughed field and fire altars, but lacked the characteristic town grid layout found across major Indus cities.
3. Lothal in Gujarat served as a prominent port city featuring a rectangular brick basin identified by archaeologists as a dockyard connected to the Bhogavo River.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A
    1 and 2 only
  2. B
    2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 3 onlyAnswer
  4. D
    1, 2 and 3

Answer

Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Dholavira is renowned for its unique tripartite division (Citadel, Middle Town, and Lower Town) along with a complex water management system featuring cut-stone reservoirs. Lothal was a premier Harappan coastal port city containing a celebrated brick dockyard on the Bhogavo river. Statement 2 is incorrect because Kalibangan fully integrated the standard grid layout of roads cutting at right angles, despite its pre-Harappan and Harappan cultural layers.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate Statement 1 regarding Dholavira
Dholavira, located in the Rann of Kutch (Gujarat), is distinct because unlike most dual-part Harappan sites (citadel and lower town), it was divided into three main sectors: the Citadel, Middle Town, and Lower Town. It also features a series of massive stone-cut water reservoirs and sophisticated water management systems. Thus, Statement 1 is correct.
Verify urban division and water architecture of Dholavira.
2
Evaluate Statement 2 regarding Kalibangan
Kalibangan, located in Hanumangarh district (Rajasthan), indeed yielded evidence of the earliest known ploughed field (showing wooden plough furrows) and fire altars (vedis). However, it strictly adhered to the characteristic Harappan grid-pattern system where streets intersected at right angles. Thus, Statement 2 is incorrect.
Identify the falsified detail about Kalibangan's urban grid layout.
3
Evaluate Statement 3 regarding Lothal
Lothal, situated near the Bhogavo River in Ahmedabad district (Gujarat), was a vital Harappan maritime trade hub featuring a massive burnt-brick basin identified as a tidal dockyard. Thus, Statement 3 is correct.
Confirm Lothal's geographical location and architectural features.

Key Concept

Urban Planning and Archaeological Features of Major Harappan Sites
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Ancient Indian Civilizations and Early Empires

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