Question 1

Which method is primarily used to determine the date of the Indus Valley Civilization?

Accepted Answer

Radiocarbon Dating (C-14). Radiocarbon dating (C-14) is the most accepted scientific method for dating ancient organic materials. It has placed the mature phase of the Indus Valley Civilization roughly between 2500 BCE and 1750 BCE. This technique measures the decay of carbon isotopes in artifacts.

Question 2

Which metal was NOT known to the people of the Indus Valley Civilization?

Accepted Answer

Iron. The people of the Indus Valley Civilization did not have knowledge of iron. They belonged to the Bronze Age and primarily utilized copper and bronze for tools and weapons. Iron discovery in India happened much later in the Vedic period.

Question 3

What were the main food crops of the Indus Valley Civilization?

Accepted Answer

Wheat and Barley. Wheat and barley were the staple food crops cultivated by the Indus people. Evidence of these grains has been found in quantity at sites like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. They also grew other crops like sesame, mustard, and cotton.

Question 4

The majority of Indus Valley seals were made of which material?

Accepted Answer

Steatite. Most of the seals found in the Indus Valley Civilization were made of steatite, a soft stone. These seals often depict animals like the unicorn, bull, or rhino alongside the script. Steatite is easily carved and hardens upon heating.

Question 5

Which site provided the first evidence of cotton cultivation?

Accepted Answer

Mehrgarh. Mehrgarh is historically significant for providing the earliest evidence of cotton cultivation in the subcontinent. It is a precursor site that leads into the Indus Valley Civilization timeline. The Indus people were among the first to produce cotton for textiles.

Indus Valley — Set 1