[Solved] Kot Diji Location and Proximity to Mohenjo-Daro

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

[UPSC CDS 2018 (II)]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

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.

Authentic Source Evidence

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.

Analytical Breakdown

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.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"What makes Kot Diji significant in Harappan chronology?"

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

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

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

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