Official UPSC Format

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 :

⚡ Quick Recall Snippet

Archaeological evidence from the Indus Valley Civilization provides deep socio-economic insights. Standardized weights and graduated scales reveal advanced scientific metrology. Additionally, the presence of distinct baked-brick houses with their own private wells strongly suggests social stratification and a private property system, rather than communal ownership.

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Detailed Solution & Authority Citations

Correct Answer is Option 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.

    🚨 The Examiner's Trap

    Inference 3 is the logical trap. Because the Harappans are famous for 'public' works (like the Great Bath or public drainage), candidates might falsely extrapolate that the entire society was based on a 'common property system', ignoring the explicit text about private houses and own wells.

    Active Recall Flashcard

    Tap to Flip

    Does the archaeological evidence of large Harappan houses featuring their own private wells indicate a 'common property system' or a 'private property system'?

    A private property system (indicating social stratification and wealth inequality).

    Concept Flow Mapping

    Harappan Civilization
    Possessed
    Standardized Weights
    Harappan Houses
    Featured
    Private Wells
    Private Wells and Houses
    Indicate
    Private Property System

    Logic Quest

    "Why does a private well indicate social stratification?"

    Not analyzing core concepts like Socio-Economic Inferences from Material Culture through the lens of Previous Year Questions is a serious miss-out. This PYQ engine is specifically designed to help you decode the examiner's mindset and master highly probable Ancient History questions for your upcoming Prelims.