U.P.P.C.S. Prelims 1997

Chalcolithic Cultures

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

In the Chalcolithic period people of Maharashtra buried their dead under the floor of their houses in the following orientation:

Solution & Analysis

Answer: A

Concept Funerary customs provide deep insights into the spiritual beliefs and domestic life of prehistoric cultures.

Explanation Excavations at sites like Nevasa, Daimabad, and Inamgaon (Jorwe culture) reveal that adults and children were buried in urns under the floor, aligned North-South.

Logical Breakup

North to South (A): The standard orientation for burials in the Chalcolithic Maharashtra region.

Harappan Comparison: Unlike the Jorwe culture, Harappans used separate cemeteries (e.g., Cemetery R-37) and typically used an East-West orientation.

Active Recall

Question

What does burying the dead 'under the floor' suggest?

Answer

It suggests a desire to keep deceased family members close to the living and a lack of formalized, separate burial grounds.

Core Insight

The rigid North-South orientation of Jorwe burials indicates a well-defined cultural or religious code that was maintained across several centuries.

In the Chalcolithic period people of Maharashtra buried their dead under the floor of their houses in the following orientation:

Solution & Analysis

Active Recall

Core Insight

Practice Navigation