170. Which Harappan city was divided into three major parts?
[SSC CHSL 2023]
A. Dholavira
B. Harappa
C. Chanhudaro
D. Alamgirpur
Answer: A. Dholavira
Explanation: Dholavira displayed an unusual tripartite arrangement commonly described as citadel, middle town and lower town, making its urban layout distinctive among major Harappan settlements.
169. Which Harappan city is famous for a dockyard?
[SSC CHSL 2023]
A. Kalibangan
B. Lothal
C. Rakhigarhi
D. Harappa
Answer: B. Lothal
Explanation: Lothal’s massive brick basin is conventionally interpreted as a dock facility. The settlement also produced beads and other goods used in regional and overseas commerce.
168. Which Harappan site in Gujarat is especially noted for water conservation?
[SSC 2023]
A. Dholavira
B. Alamgirpur
C. Manda
D. Harappa
Answer: A. Dholavira
Explanation: Dholavira developed a remarkable system of stone-lined reservoirs, channels and water-harvesting structures suited to the dry environment of the Rann of Kutch.
167. Which Harappan site is located in Afghanistan?
[SSC 2023]
A. Shortughai
B. Kalibangan
C. Ropar
D. Banawali
Answer: A. Shortughai
Explanation: Shortughai was an outlying Harappan settlement in northeastern Afghanistan. Its position helped connect the Indus world with Central Asian resources, especially lapis lazuli.
166. Which feature best demonstrates the urban character of Harappan civilization?
[SSC 2023]
A. Planned streets and drainage
B. Cave dwelling
C. Exclusive hunting economy
D. Absence of crafts
Answer: A. Planned streets and drainage
Explanation: Harappan centres exhibit planned street grids, standardized buildings, covered drains and specialized craft areas, providing strong evidence for organized and sophisticated urban settlement.
165. Which site is associated with terracotta models of a plough?
[SSC 2023]
A. Banawali
B. Harappa
C. Mohenjo-daro
D. Balakot
Answer: A. Banawali
Explanation: Terracotta plough models discovered at Banawali provide material evidence for agricultural technology. Combined with Kalibangan’s furrowed field, they reveal organized Harappan farming practices.
164. Which site had evidence of fire altars?
[SSC GD 2023]
A. Kalibangan
B. Manda
C. Harappa only
D. Alamgirpur
Answer: A. Kalibangan
Explanation: Archaeologists identified rows of structures interpreted as fire altars at Kalibangan. Similar ritual installations have also been reported from some other Harappan settlements.
163. Which Harappan centre is especially connected with bead manufacture and craft specialization?
[SSC MTS 2023]
A. Chanhudaro
B. Manda
C. Hulas
D. Alamgirpur
Answer: A. Chanhudaro
Explanation: Chanhudaro produced substantial evidence of bead-making and craft workshops. Its archaeological remains illustrate the high degree of occupational specialization within the Harappan economy.
162. Based on Harappan excavations, which statement is NOT generally correct?
[CGPSC 2022]
A. Standardized bricks were used extensively
B. Most houses were only single-storeyed
C. Broad roads existed in major towns
D. Urban planning was developed
Answer: B. Most houses were only single-storeyed
Explanation: Evidence of staircases and substantial walls shows that many Harappan houses could have upper floors. Their towns also display standardized bricks and organized streets.
161. In which Indian state have Harappan towns NOT normally been found?
[SSC CGL 2022]
A. Haryana
B. Rajasthan
C. Uttarakhand
D. Gujarat
Answer: C. Uttarakhand
Explanation: Important Harappan settlements occur extensively in Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Uttarakhand lies outside the principal known distribution of mature Harappan urban sites.
