While wheat and barley were the staple crops of the Indus Valley Civilization, evidence for rice cultivation is scarce and mostly associated with later phases or specific sites like Lothal and Rangpur. It was not a primary crop in the main Harappan and Mohenjo-Daro regions compared to wheat.
13912
The ruins of Mohenjo-Daro were situated along the banks of which river?
Mohenjo-Daro was strategically located on the banks of the Indus River in Sindh. This location was vital for the city's agriculture, trade, and transportation, serving as a lifeline for its economy.
13913
Who led the discovery and first excavations of the site at Harappa?
Rai Bahadur Dayaram Sahni discovered and began excavations at Harappa in 1921. His work provided the first concrete evidence of this vast Bronze Age civilization, preceding the discovery of Mohenjo-Daro.
13914
Which scholar is credited with being the first to use the term 'Indus Civilization'?
Sir John Marshall, who was the Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India, was the first scholar to officially use the term 'Indus Civilization'. He oversaw the excavations that revealed the civilization's existence to the world.
13915
Who is the male deity depicted on seals, often associated with a prototype of Lord Shiva?
The Indus people worshipped a male deity often referred to as 'Pashupati' or 'Proto-Shiva'. He is depicted on seals seated in a yogic posture, surrounded by animals, which parallels the later Hindu concept of Shiva as the Lord of Animals (Pashupati).
13916
Which deity is considered to be the primary female figure of worship in the Indus Valley Civilization?
The discovery of numerous terracotta figurines depicting a female form suggests that the worship of a Mother Goddess was prevalent. This indicates a reverence for fertility and nature, a common characteristic of ancient agricultural societies.
13917
What was the primary construction material used for residential houses in the Indus Valley cities?
Unlike many contemporary civilizations that used sun-dried mud bricks, the Indus people extensively used standardized baked (burnt) bricks for construction. Houses were well-planned, often multi-storied, and built along grid-patterned roads.
13918
Which factors are believed to have contributed to the decline and eventual end of the Indus Valley Civilization?
The decline of the Harappan culture around 1500 BC is attributed to a combination of complex factors rather than a single event. These include environmental shifts like recurrent floods, tectonic activity (earthquakes) that altered river courses, and potential external pressures such as the migration or invasion of Aryan groups.
13919
The archaeological site of Harappa is situated in which district of the Punjab province in Pakistan?
Harappa is located in the Montgomery district (now Sahiwal) of Punjab, Pakistan. It was the first site to be excavated, which is why the Indus Valley Civilization is alternatively known as the Harappan Civilization.
13920
Which major settlement of the Indus Valley Civilization is located in the Larkana district of Sindh, Pakistan?
Mohenjo-Daro is situated in the Larkana district of Sindh. The name translates to 'Mound of the Dead' in the local Sindhi language. It was one of the largest and most sophisticated settlements of the ancient civilization, renowned for its urban planning and the Great Bath.
