Q1. Explain the main features of Harappan town planning.
Ans:
Buildings were built with standardised (ratio 1:2:4) baked bricks.
Streets followed a grid system and cut at right angles.
The city was divided into the citadel (western part) and the lower town (eastern part).
Question 2. Describe the drainage system of Harappan civilisation.
Ans:
House drains flowed through a cesspit into the street drain. Inspection holes were made for maintenance.
Covered drains were built along the main roads.
House drains were connected to street drains.
Q3. What do we know about Harappan agriculture and food habits?
Ans:
• Crops included wheat, barley, peas, sesame, and cotton.
• Evidence of ploughed fields was found at Kalibangan.
• People ate cereals, fruits, meat, and dairy products.
Q4. Mention three important features of Harappan trade.
Ans:
• They traded locally and with distant regions like Mesopotamia.
• Items like beads, pottery, and metals were exported.
• Used standardized weights and measures; Lothal had a dockyard.
Q5. Why is the Harappan script difficult to decipher?
Ans:
• The inscriptions are very short, with only 5–26 signs.
• No bilingual inscriptions have been found.
• The script’s language family is unknown.
Q6. What were the burial practices in the Harappan civilization?
Ans:
• Practices included extended burials, urn burials, and secondary burials.
• Graves included pottery, ornaments, and tools.
• These show belief in an afterlife.
Q7. List three items used by the Harappans in their crafts.
Ans:
• Beads made from carnelian, faience, and shells.
• Seals carved from steatite with animal motifs.
• Painted pottery and bronze tools.
Q8. What was the importance of seals in the Harappan civilization?
Ans:
• Used for identifying goods and ownership.
• Pressed onto clay sealings for trade.
• Contained animal figures and script signs.
Q9. How were Harappan seals and sealings used to facilitate long-distance communication?
Ans:
• Seals were tied to goods in transit and pressed on clay.
• They identified the sender and protected the contents.
• Helped in trade by acting like modern tags.
Q10. Who was A.C. Cunningham? What was his contribution to Harappan archaeology?
Ans:
• He was the first Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India.
• Focused on text-based archaeology and ignored Harappan sites.
• Used travel records to locate ancient sites.
Q11. Who was R.E.M. Wheeler? Mention one archaeological contribution he made.
Ans:
• R.E.M. Wheeler was a British archaeologist and Director General of ASI.
• Introduced stratigraphy and grid excavation methods.
• Helped identify military structures at Harappa.
Q12. What are the raw materials required for Harappan craft production?
Ans:
• Copper, gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, steatite, and shells were used.
• Sources: Gujarat (carnelian), Afghanistan (lapis), coastal areas (shells).
• Collected via local sources and long-distance trade.
