Official Question UPSC 2026
Consider the following statements about the archaeological findings in Harappan towns : I. There is wide occurrence of spindle-whorls in the houses but absence of spinning wheels. II. Weights and measurement scales, complete with graduations have been discovered. III. There are houses built in large part with baked bricks, around relatively spacious courtyards, with their own wells, bathing platforms, and large rooms. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above statements ? 1. Statement I suggests that spinning was a laborious activity done at home. 2. Statement II suggests the extent of the scientific knowledge that the Harappans possessed. 3. Statement III suggests the emergence of a common property system. Select the answer using the code given below :
Solution & Analysis
Answer: A
Archaeological inferences require connecting physical artifacts to sociological behavior:
•Inference 1 is Correct: Spindle-whorls (made of terracotta or faience) are found abundantly in Harappan houses, proving spinning was a widespread domestic chore. Because the mechanical spinning wheel was unknown (it arrived in India centuries later), they relied on hand-held drop spindles. This method is incredibly slow and highly laborious, accurately reflecting the inference.
•Inference 2 is Correct: The Harappans utilized a highly standardized, binary-decimal system of cubical chert weights. Excavations at Lothal and Mohenjo-Daro uncovered precisely graduated measuring scales (made of ivory and shell). This exact metrology undeniably proves advanced scientific and mathematical knowledge utilized for architecture and trade.
•Inference 3 is Incorrect: The statement describes massive, multi-room baked-brick houses equipped with their own private wells and personal bathing platforms. These are expensive, exclusive assets. Such structural inequality points directly to a society based on social stratification and a private property system, utterly contradicting the concept of a "common" or communal property system.
Conclusion: Inferences 1 and 2 are logically sound, making Option A correct.