[Solved] Burzahom, Chandraketugarh, & Ganeshwar Sites | UPSC 2021

Consider the following pairs: Historical place: Well-known for:
1. Burzahom - Rock-cut shrines
2. Chandra-Ketugarh - Terracotta art
3. Ganeshwar - Copper artefacts Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

[UPSC CSE Pre 2021]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Ancient Indian archaeological sites are categorized by their chronological period (Neolithic, Chalcolithic, etc.) and the unique material culture found there, such as pottery, tools, or art.

Authentic Source Evidence

NCERT and ASI excavations identify Burzahom as a Neolithic site known for pit-dwellings, while Chandraketugarh is famous for early historic terracotta and Ganeshwar for its rich Chalcolithic copper industry.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: Pair 1 is incorrect. Burzahom (J&K) is a Neolithic site famous for pit-dwellings and unique burials. Rock-cut shrines are characteristic of later periods (post-Mauryan).

Logic 2: Pair 2 is correct. Chandraketugarh (West Bengal) is a major center for terracotta art dating from the 3rd century BCE (pre-Mauryan and Mauryan eras).

Logic 3: Pair 3 is correct. Ganeshwar (Rajasthan) is the type-site for the Ganeshwar-Jodhpura culture, yielding over 5,000 copper objects, supplying copper to Harappan sites.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"Why is Ganeshwar considered significant to the Harappan Civilization?"

It was a major copper-producing center in the Khetri belt that likely supplied copper raw materials and finished goods to Harappan urban centers.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"Differentiating between the 'period' (e.g., Neolithic) and 'technique' (e.g., Rock-cut) is a frequent trap in UPSC archaeology questions."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Consider the following pairs: Historical place: Well-known for:1. Burzahom - Rock-cut shrines2. Chandra-Ketugarh - Terracotta art3. Ganeshwar - Copper artefacts Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?