130. Which civilization’s houses commonly incorporated brick construction and drainage?
[SSC 2021]
A. Harappan
B. Paleolithic
C. Mesolithic
D. Gupta village culture
Answer: A. Harappan
Explanation: Harappan residential architecture used standardized mud and baked bricks. Bathrooms and household drains often connected with larger street drains, illustrating organized urban sanitation.
129. Which city is associated most directly with the Great Bath?
[SSC 2021]
A. Mohenjo-daro
B. Lothal
C. Banawali
D. Surkotada
Answer: A. Mohenjo-daro
Explanation: Built with carefully fitted bricks and waterproofing, the Great Bath was constructed in Mohenjo-daro’s elevated sector and probably served communal ceremonial purposes.
128. Which Harappan city had a major maritime trading facility?
[SSC 2021]
A. Lothal
B. Harappa
C. Ropar
D. Alamgirpur
Answer: A. Lothal
Explanation: Lothal’s location close to the Gulf of Khambhat encouraged maritime commerce. Archaeological evidence includes a basin interpreted as a dock and specialized commercial facilities.
127. Copper used by the Harappans was obtained significantly from which region?
[SSC MTS 2021]
A. Rajasthan
B. Kerala
C. Bengal delta
D. Kashmir
Answer: A. Rajasthan
Explanation: Rajasthan’s Khetri copper belt was an important source for Harappan metalworking. Long-distance procurement of raw materials demonstrates an organized and interconnected economic system.
126. Which site is famous for both a ploughed field and ritual fire installations?
[SSC 2021]
A. Kalibangan
B. Manda
C. Ropar
D. Harappa
Answer: A. Kalibangan
Explanation: Kalibangan in Rajasthan produced preserved furrow marks interpreted as a ploughed field and several structures described as fire altars, making it archaeologically distinctive.
125. The term “Mohenjo-daro” literally means:
[RRB NTPC 2021]
A. Mound of the Dead
B. City of Gold
C. City of Merchants
D. Great Port
Answer: A. Mound of the Dead
Explanation: Mohenjo-daro is commonly translated from Sindhi as “Mound of the Dead.” The ancient settlement’s original Harappan name remains unknown because its script remains undeciphered.
124. Which site illustrates Harappan expansion into the upper Ganga-Yamuna region?
[SSC 2021]
A. Alamgirpur
B. Lothal
C. Dholavira
D. Balakot
Answer: A. Alamgirpur
Explanation: Alamgirpur in western Uttar Pradesh represents the easternmost extension traditionally assigned to the Harappan cultural horizon and demonstrates the civilization’s enormous geographical spread.
123. Which Harappan site is associated with a large signboard bearing script symbols?
[SSC 2021]
A. Dholavira
B. Harappa
C. Kalibangan
D. Ropar
Answer: A. Dholavira
Explanation: Dholavira yielded exceptionally large Indus signs arranged like a public signboard, an unusual discovery because most Harappan inscriptions occur as short texts on seals.
122. Which statement about the Harappan script is correct?
[SSC 2021]
A. It remains undeciphered
B. It is definitely Sanskrit
C. It is written in Devanagari
D. It contains long historical chronicles
Answer: A. It remains undeciphered
Explanation: Despite numerous proposed readings, no decipherment has gained scholarly consensus. The inscriptions are generally short and no bilingual inscription comparable to the Rosetta Stone survives.
121. Which material was extensively used for Harappan seal-making?
[SSC 2021]
A. Steatite
B. Iron
C. Marble
D. Granite
Answer: A. Steatite
Explanation: Steatite was easily carved and could be hardened through firing. Harappan artisans used it to manufacture square seals containing inscriptions and animal imagery.
