📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Basic Facts
- Period: about 2600–1900 BCE (mature phase); a Bronze Age urban civilisation.
- Harappa was excavated in 1921 by Daya Ram Sahni and Mohenjo-daro in 1922 by R.D. Banerji; John Marshall was ASI Director-General.
- Harappa was the first site found, so it is also called the Harappan Civilisation.
- Script: pictographic, right to left (also boustrophedon); still undeciphered.
- Largest site in India: Rakhigarhi (Haryana); overall Rakhigarhi and Mohenjo-daro are among the largest.
📌 2. Major Sites & Finds
| Site | River / Location | Key finds |
|---|---|---|
| Harappa | Ravi, Punjab (Pak) | Granaries, Cemetery R-37, workers' quarters |
| Mohenjo-daro | Indus, Sindh (Pak) | Great Bath, granary, Pashupati seal, bronze Dancing Girl, Priest-King |
| Lothal | Bhogava, Gujarat | Dockyard, bead industry, double burial |
| Kalibangan | Ghaggar, Rajasthan | Ploughed field, fire altars |
| Dholavira | Kutch, Gujarat | Water management, three-part city, signboard; UNESCO (2021) |
| Chanhudaro | Indus, Sindh | City without citadel, bead factory |
| Banawali | Haryana | Toy plough, barley |
| Ropar | Sutlej, Punjab | Dog buried with master |
| Surkotada | Kutch, Gujarat | Horse bones |
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- Lothal's dockyard proves trade; the Great Bath is at Mohenjo-daro, not Lothal.
- Chanhudaro is the major city without a citadel.
📌 3. Town Planning, Economy, Religion & Decline
- Grid-pattern streets, burnt bricks, covered drains; cities had a citadel (west) and a lower town (east).
- Crops: wheat, barley; earliest cotton growers (Greeks called it Sindon). Iron was unknown.
- Trade with Mesopotamia, whose texts call the Indus region Meluhha.
- Religion: Mother Goddess, Pashupati (proto-Shiva), trees (peepal) and the unicorn; no temples found.
- Possible causes of decline: climate change, floods, shifting rivers, decline of trade.
💡 Memory Tip: "Lo-Dho-Ka" = Lothal (dockyard), Dholavira (water management), Kalibangan (ploughed field).
📌 4. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. Who first excavated Harappa (1921)? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Daya Ram Sahni excavated Harappa in 1921.
Daya Ram Sahni excavated Harappa in 1921.
Q2. Where was the Great Bath found? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The Great Bath is the most famous structure of Mohenjo-daro.
The Great Bath is the most famous structure of Mohenjo-daro.
Q3. The dockyard was found at which Harappan site? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
A brick dockyard was found at Lothal, Gujarat.
A brick dockyard was found at Lothal, Gujarat.
Q4. Evidence of a ploughed field comes from: Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Kalibangan in Rajasthan has a ploughed field.
Kalibangan in Rajasthan has a ploughed field.
Q5. Which metal was unknown to the Indus people? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The Harappans were a Bronze Age people; iron came later.
The Harappans were a Bronze Age people; iron came later.
Q6. Mesopotamian texts refer to the Indus region as: Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Mesopotamian records call the Indus region Meluhha.
Mesopotamian records call the Indus region Meluhha.
Q7. Which is the largest Harappan site in India? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Rakhigarhi in Haryana is the largest Harappan site in India.
Rakhigarhi in Haryana is the largest Harappan site in India.
Q8. Which Harappan city had no citadel? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Chanhudaro is the major city without a citadel.
Chanhudaro is the major city without a citadel.
Q9. The Pashupati seal was found at: Practice
Correct answer: (C)
The seal of a seated figure (Pashupati) came from Mohenjo-daro.
The seal of a seated figure (Pashupati) came from Mohenjo-daro.
Q10. Which statement about the Indus script is correct? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
The Indus script is pictographic, mostly right-to-left and undeciphered.
The Indus script is pictographic, mostly right-to-left and undeciphered.
Q11. Dholavira is in which state and known for what? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Dholavira in Kutch, Gujarat is famous for water management; UNESCO 2021.
Dholavira in Kutch, Gujarat is famous for water management; UNESCO 2021.
Q12. The Harappans were among the earliest growers of which crop, called 'Sindon' by Greeks? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The Harappans were among the first to grow cotton.
The Harappans were among the first to grow cotton.
Q13. The bronze 'Dancing Girl' was found at: Practice
Correct answer: (A)
The famous bronze Dancing Girl came from Mohenjo-daro.
The famous bronze Dancing Girl came from Mohenjo-daro.
Q14. Kalibangan lies on the bank of which river? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Kalibangan is on the Ghaggar in Rajasthan.
Kalibangan is on the Ghaggar in Rajasthan.
Q15. Harappa was located on which river? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Harappa is on the Ravi; Mohenjo-daro is on the Indus.
Harappa is on the Ravi; Mohenjo-daro is on the Indus.
Q16. Evidence of which type of worship is NOT found in the IVC? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
No temples were found; there are signs of Mother Goddess, Pashupati and tree worship.
No temples were found; there are signs of Mother Goddess, Pashupati and tree worship.
Q17. What characterised Indus town planning? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Streets crossed at right angles and drains were covered.
Streets crossed at right angles and drains were covered.
Q18. Horse bones were found at which Harappan site? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Horse bones were reported from Surkotada in Kutch.
Horse bones were reported from Surkotada in Kutch.
Q19. Who discovered Mohenjo-daro (1922)? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
R.D. Banerji discovered Mohenjo-daro in 1922.
R.D. Banerji discovered Mohenjo-daro in 1922.
Q20. Fire altars were found at: Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Fire altars come from Kalibangan and Lothal.
Fire altars come from Kalibangan and Lothal.