History & Culture chapter practice
Practise 80+ Indus and Prehistory MCQs for UPSC Prelims in History & Culture, including 11+ previous year questions. The sample set below is shown with correct answers and explanations.
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The famous female figurine known as 'Dancing Girl', found at Mohenjo-daro, is made of:
Explanation
Correct. The Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro is a bronze figurine approximately 10.5 cm tall, cast using the lost-wax (cire perdue) technique. It is one of the finest examples of Harappan metallurgical skill and artistic achievement.
Consider the following information: Archaeological Site — State — Description 1. Chandraketugarh — Odisha — Trading port town 2. Inamgaon — Maharashtra — Chalcolithic site 3. Mangadu — Kerala — Megalithic site 4. Salihundam — Andhra Pradesh — Rock-cut cave shrines In which of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
Explanation
Correct. Inamgaon is a major Chalcolithic site in Maharashtra with evidence of settled agricultural communities, and Mangadu is correctly identified as a megalithic site in Kerala. Chandraketugarh is in West Bengal (not Odisha), and Salihundam is an important Buddhist stupa site rather than a rock-cut cave shrine complex.
Consider the following pairs: Historical Place — Well-known for 1. Burzahom — Rock-cut shrines 2. Chandraketugarh — Terracotta art 3. Ganeshwar — Copper artefacts Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Explanation
Correct. Chandraketugarh in West Bengal is renowned for its rich terracotta art depicting scenes of daily life. Ganeshwar in Rajasthan is a Chalcolithic site famous for a large collection of copper artefacts. Burzahom is a Neolithic site, not a rock-cut shrine complex.
Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelizing water into connected reservoirs?
Explanation
Correct. Dholavira in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, is distinguished by its sophisticated water management system. The site had a series of reservoirs, dams, and channels to harvest rainwater and runoff from seasonal streams, essential for survival in the arid landscape.
Which one of the following is not a Harappan site?
Explanation
Correct. Sohgaura is not a Harappan site. It is known for an early historical copper plate inscription from the Mauryan period, found in Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh. It has no connection to the Harappan cultural horizon.
Which of the following characterizes/characterize the people of Indus civilization? 1. They possessed great palaces and temples. 2. They worshipped both male and female deities. 3. They employed horse-drawn chariots in warfare. Select the correct statement/statements using the codes given below.
Explanation
Correct. Figurines and seals from Harappan sites suggest the worship of both male and female divinities. A male figure in a yogic posture (often called Proto-Shiva) and numerous female figurines (possibly a Mother Goddess) have been found. However, grand temples and horse-drawn chariots are not established for this civilisation.
Regarding the Indus Valley civilization, consider the following statements: 1. It was predominantly a secular civilization and the religious element, though present, did not dominate the scene. 2. During this period, cotton was used for manufacturing textiles in India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Correct. The Indus civilisation was largely secular in character without massive temple complexes or dominant priestly architecture, and cotton textile fragments have been found at Mohenjo-daro, making both statements correct.
Between which of the following was the ancient town of Takshasila located?
Explanation
Correct. Taxila (Takshasila) was situated in the Gandhara region between the rivers Indus and Jhelum, in modern-day Rawalpindi district of Pakistan. It was a major centre of learning and trade on the ancient Uttarapatha.
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I (Ancient Site) — List II (Archaeological Finding) A. Lothal — 1. Ploughed field B. Kalibangan — 2. Dockyard C. Dholavira — 3. Terracotta replica of plough D. Banawali — 4. An inscription comprising ten large-sized signs of the Harappan script Codes: A B C D
Explanation
Correct. Lothal is famous for its dockyard (2), Kalibangan for its ploughed field (1), Dholavira for a large Harappan signboard inscription (4), and Banawali for a terracotta replica of a plough (3).
Which one of the following animals was NOT represented on the seals and terracotta art of the Harappan culture?
Explanation
Correct. The cow does not appear on Harappan seals. Animals commonly depicted include the unicorn bull, elephant, rhinoceros, tiger, and buffalo. The absence of the cow on seals is a notable feature of Harappan iconography.
Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? I. Lothal: Ancient dockyard II. Sarnath: First Sermon of Buddha III. Rajgir: Lion capital of Asoka IV. Nalanda: Great seat of Buddhist learning Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Explanation
Correct. Lothal had an ancient dockyard, Sarnath is where Buddha gave his first sermon, and Nalanda was a renowned centre of Buddhist learning. Rajgir is associated with the first Buddhist council, not the Lion Capital of Ashoka, so pair III is wrong.
The lost-wax technique (cire perdue) used by the Harappans is associated with:
Explanation
Correct. The lost-wax (cire perdue) technique is a metal casting process where a wax model is coated in clay, heated to melt the wax, and then molten metal is poured into the mould. The Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro is the most famous example of this technique in the Harappan civilisation.
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