CAPF 2014

Harappan Economy and Crafts

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Which one among the following is not true of bead-making as a salient feature of mature Harappan crafts?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: D

Concept Harappan bead-making was a specialized craft involving precise technologies for drilling, polishing, and firing a wide range of organic and inorganic materials.

Explanation Chanhudaro and Lothal are recognized as dedicated bead-making centers where entire workshops with unfinished materials have been found. Banawali, while yielding beads, was primarily a fortified citadel site and not a specialized workshop hub of this kind.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Option A is correct; materials included Carnelian, Jasper, Crystal, Quartz, Steatite, and various metals.
Logic 2: Option B is correct; unfinished objects (wastage) are the primary way archaeologists identify factory sites.
Logic 3: Option C is correct; Chanhudaro is the most famous site for bead-making furnaces.

Active Recall

Question

Which material was easiest for Harappan bead-makers to work with?

Answer

Steatite, a very soft stone that could be easily molded into beads and then fired to harden.

Core Insight

The existence of dedicated craft centers like Chanhudaro indicates a high degree of labor specialization and surplus-driven trade.