CAPF AC 2025 Q41: Ancient History – Indus Valley Civilization
- (a) Dholavira
- (b) Rakhigarhi
- (c) Kunal
- (d) Kalibangan
Answer: (d) Kalibangan
Explanation
Ploughed field of the early Harappan period
How to think: the clue is a ploughed field with two sets of furrows at right angles.
This evidence was found at Kalibangan in Rajasthan, in the early Harappan (pre-Harappan) level.
| Site | Known for |
|---|---|
| Dholavira | Water conservation, stadium, signboard |
| Rakhigarhi | Largest Harappan site in India (Haryana) |
| Kunal | Silver ornaments, early Harappan site (Haryana) |
| Kalibangan | Ploughed field, fire altars, camel bones, two sets of furrows |
The two sets of furrows suggest mixed cropping: two different crops grown together in the same field.
The site is on the dried-up Ghaggar-Hakra (Saraswati) river in Rajasthan.
Answer: (d) Kalibangan.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Dholavira is known for its water system, not a ploughed field.
- (b) Incorrect. Rakhigarhi is known for its size and burials.
- (c) Incorrect. Kunal is known for silver ornaments.
- (d) CORRECT. Kalibangan has the ploughed field with two sets of furrows.
Key point
Kalibangan (Rajasthan, Ghaggar): early Harappan ploughed field with criss-cross furrows (mixed cropping), fire altars, bangle factory; excavated by B. B. Lal and B. K. Thapar (1960-69).
Remember
Kalibangan: ploughed field, two furrow sets, mixed cropping.
Common mistakes
- Picking Rakhigarhi because it is the biggest Harappan site.
- Linking the ploughed field with the late Harappan phase instead of the early one.
- Thinking the two furrow sets show a single crop in rows.
Exam tip
Educated guess: 'Kalibangan' means 'black bangles', and the site is the famous one for farm evidence; the others have more famous features that are not about farming.
Sources
- NCERT Class XII Themes in Indian History Part I, Chapter 1: Bricks, Beads and Bones (agriculture and the ploughed field at Kalibangan)
- B. B. Lal and B. K. Thapar, Excavations at Kalibangan, Ancient India Nos. 18-19 (Archaeological Survey of India, 1962-63)