History

Bricks, Beads and Bones

Question:

Look at figure 1.30 (See NCERT page-26) and describe what you see. How is the body placed? What are the objects placed near it? Are there any artefacts on the body? Do these indicate the sex of the skeleton?

Answer:

Following observations can be obtained after looking at the figure:
•Body has been kept in North-south direction in a pit,
•Many graves contain pottery and ornaments which include jar.
•Yes, jewellery like bangles are there on the body.
•Yes, this indicates towards the sex of the skeleton, Le. it is the body of a woman.
It is concluded that there were great social or economic differences among the people living within the area of the Harappan Civilisation. But as a whole it appears that the Harappan did not believe in burying precious things with the dead.

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Bricks, Beads and Bones

Q 1.

List the items of food available to people in Harappan cities. Identify the groups who would have provided these.

Q 2.

Discuss the functions that may have been performed by rulers in Harappan society.

Q 3.

Discuss, how archaeologists reconstruct the past.

Q 4.

Would you agree that the drainage system in Harappan cities indicates town planning? Give reasons for your answer.

Q 5.

List the materials used to make beads in the Harappan Civilisation. Describe the process by which any one kind of bead was made.

Q 6.

List the raw materials required for craft production in the Harappan Civilisation and discuss how these might have been obtained.

Q 7.

Look at figure 1.30 (See NCERT page-26) and describe what you see. How is the body placed? What are the objects placed near it? Are there any artefacts on the body? Do these indicate the sex of the skeleton?

Q 8.

Describe some ofthe distinctive features of Mohenjodaro. [Delhi 2013]

Q 9.

List the items of food available to people in Harappan cities. Identify the groups who would have provided these.

Q 10.

On the given map, use a pencil to circle the sites where evidence of agriculture has been recovered. Mark an X against sites where there is evidence of craft production and R against sites where raw materials were found.

Q 11.

How do archaeologists trace socio-economic differences in Harappan society? What are the differences that they notice? [Delhi, All India 2009, 2011]