CAPF 2020

Harappan Archeology

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Which of the following is/are the most distinctive artefacts of the Harappan Civilisation? 1. Steatite seal 2. Bricks of a standardised ratio 3. Gold bangles 4. Silver spittoon Select the correct answer:

Solution & Analysis

Answer: B

Concept 'Distinctive' artefacts are those unique to a specific culture that define its archaeological identity.

Explanation NCERT explicitly states the Steatite Seal is the most distinctive artifact. Similarly, the 4:2:1 brick ratio is a hallmark of Harappan engineering not found in other contemporary cultures.

Logical Breakup
Steatite Seals (1): Unique to IVC in their iconography and script usage.
Standardized Bricks (2): A key marker of Harappan municipal planning.
Exclusions: Gold bangles (3) were common to Egypt and Mesopotamia; silver spittoons (4) are not a documented 'distinctive' Harappan artifact type.

Active Recall

Question

Why are steatite seals considered 'distinctive'?

Answer

Because they combined high-quality animal realistic art with a unique, still-undeciphered script used for trade and administrative identification.

Core Insight

Standardization—seen in bricks and weights—is the most important abstract artifact of Harappan governance.