UPSC CDS 2018 (II)

Harappan Geography

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

The Harappan site at Kot Diji is close to which one of the following major sites of that civilisation?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: B

Concept The Indus Civilization settlements often clustered in fertile regions, with Kot Diji acting as a precursor and neighbor to the great metropolis of Mohenjo-Daro.

Explanation Kot Diji is located on the east bank of the Indus river in Sindh, Pakistan. It is less than 100 km from Mohenjo-Daro, making it the closest major site in the Sindh cluster.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Both sites are in modern-day Sindh. Harappa is hundreds of kilometers away in Punjab.
Logic 2: Kot Diji is famous for its 'Kot Dijian' pottery, which represents the transition from the Early Harappan to the Mature Harappan phase.

Active Recall

Question

What makes Kot Diji significant in Harappan chronology?

Answer

It provides evidence of a massive fire that destroyed the early settlement, after which the Mature Harappan urban features were built over the ruins.

Core Insight

The proximity of Kot Diji to Mohenjo-Daro suggests a shared resource base and likely political or economic integration within the Sindh heartland.