Harappan Economic Organization

Harappan Chert Blades Factory | Sukkur and Rohri

The Sukkur and Rohri Hills in Sindh served as the primary factory sites for the mass production of Harappan chert and limestone blades.

Primary Reference: NCERT Class 12 - Themes in Indian History Part I

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From which one of the following factory sites were limestone and chert blades mass produced and sent to various Harappan settlements in Sindh?

[UPSC CDS 2020 (I)]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept


The Harappans established specialized factory sites near raw material sources to mass-produce standardized tools for the entire civilization.

Authentic Source Evidence

The Sukkur and Rohri Hills in Sindh (Pakistan) were massive production centers where millions of high-quality chert blades were manufactured and distributed to cities like Mohenjo-Daro.

Analytical Breakdown


  • Sukkur and Rohri (A): Provided the unique, light-grey chert used for standardized Harappan stone tools.

  • Khetri (B): Was the primary source for Copper, not stone blades.

  • Baluchistan: Source for semi-precious stones and lead.
  • Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

    "What does the mass production of blades at a single site suggest?"

    It suggests a highly organized internal trade network and a centralized system of labor and resource allocation.

    Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

    "The Sukkur-Rohri factory system highlights that Harappan society was not just self-sufficient villages but a complex, interdependent industrial economy."

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