Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank

2450-1850 BC b) 2350-1750 BC c) 2250-1650 BC d)

Origin and Geographical Extent 2550-1950 BC
1. When was the Indus Valley Civilisation discovered? Answer: b) 2350-1750 BC
a) 1920 b) 1921 c) 1922 d) 1923 12. What was the climate condition in Northern and
Answer: b) 1921 Western parts of India during Harappan times? a) Dry
2. Where was the Indus Valley Civilisation first and arid b) Cold and dry c) Moist and humid d) Hot and
discovered? a) Mohenjodaro b) Modern site of Harappadry
in West Punjab in Pakistan c) Kalibangan d) Lothal Answer: c) Moist and humid
Answer: b) Modern site of Harappa in West Punjab in13. What was the condition of areas of Sind and
Pakistan Rajasthan during Harappan times? a) They were
3. Which areas did the Indus Valley Civilisation cover? deserts b) They were not deserts c) They were
a) Only Punjab and Haryana b) Parts of Punjab, Haryana, semi-deserts d) They were mountainous
Sind, Baluchistan, Gujarat, Rajasthan and some areas of Answer: b) They were not deserts
Uttar Pradesh c) Only Pakistan regions d) Only Indian 14. What is said about the origin of Harappan culture?
regions a) It was influenced by Mesopotamia b) It was influenced
Answer: b) Parts of Punjab, Haryana, Sind, by Egypt c) It evolved out of indigenous settlements d) It
Baluchistan, Gujarat, Rajasthan and some areas of was influenced by both Mesopotamia and Egypt
Uttar Pradesh Answer: c) It evolved out of indigenous settlements
4. What was the total area covered by the Indus Valley 15. Are there evidences that prove Mesopotamian or
Civilisation? a) 10,99,000 km² b) 11,99,000 km² c)Egyptian influence on Harappan culture? a) Yes, many
12,99,000 km² d) 13,99,000 km² evidences b) Some evidences c) Very few evidences d)
Answer: c) 12,99,000 km² No evidences
5. The area of Indus Valley Civilisation was larger thanAnswer: d) No evidences
which ancient civilisations? a) Only Egypt b) Only
Mesopotamia c) Both ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia d) Major Developments in
Neither Egypt nor Mesopotamia
Answer: c) Both ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia
Harappan Archaeology
6. Who was the first Director-General of the16. In which year did Alexander Cunningham report on
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)? a) John Marshall Harappan seal? a) 1874 b) 1875 c) 1876 d) 1877
b) Cunningham c) RD Banerjee d) Daya Ram Sahni Answer: b) 1875
Answer: b) Cunningham 17. Who began excavations at Harappa in 1921? a)
7. When did Cunningham begin archaeologicalJohn Marshall b) RD Banerjee c) Daya Ram Sahni d)
excavations of Harappan culture? a) Early 19th centuryCunningham
b) Mid-19th century c) Late 19th century d) Early 20th Answer: c) Daya Ram Sahni
century 18. When did excavations begin at Mohenjodaro? a)
Answer: b) Mid-19th century 1924 b) 1925 c) 1926 d) 1927
8. Who discovered seals at Harappa in the early Answer: b) 1925
decades of the 20th century? a) Cunningham and John 19. Who excavated at Harappa in 1946? a) John
Marshall b) Daya Ram Sahni and RD Banerjee c) Only Marshall b) SR Rao c) REM Wheeler d) BB Lal
Daya Ram Sahni d) Only RD Banerjee Answer: c) REM Wheeler
Answer: b) Daya Ram Sahni and RD Banerjee 20. Who began excavations at Lothal in 1955? a) REM
9. Who announced the discovery of a new civilisation Wheeler b) SR Rao c) BB Lal d) BK Thapar
in the Indus Valley to the world in 1924? a) Answer: b) SR Rao
Cunningham b) Daya Ram Sahni c) RD Banerjee d) John21. Who began excavations at Kalibangan in 1960? a)
Marshall SR Rao and REM Wheeler b) BB Lal and BK Thapar c)
Answer: d) John Marshall John Marshall and Cunningham d) Daya Ram Sahni and
10. What was John Marshall's position? a) RD Banerjee
Archaeologist b) Director-General of the ASI c) FirstAnswer: b) BB Lal and BK Thapar
Director-General of ASI d) Assistant Director of ASI 22. Who began explorations in Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Answer: b) Director-General of the ASI in 1974? a) SR Rao b) BB Lal c) MR Mughal d) BK
11. What time period has radiocarbon datingThapar
determined for the Indus Valley Civilisation? a)Answer: c) MR Mughal

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Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
23. Which team began surface explorations at35. By which year had the Indus Valley Civilisation
Mohenjodaro in 1980? a) American team b) German andentered into a mature stage? a) 2700 BC b) 2600 BC c)
Italian archaeologists c) British team d) Indian team 2500 BC d) 2800 BC
Answer: b) German and Italian archaeologists Answer: b) 2600 BC
24. When did the American team begin excavations at 36. What happened to early Harappan communities by
Harappa? a) 1985 b) 1986 c) 1987 d) 1988 the Mature phase? a) They remained small villages b)
Answer: b) 1986 They were turning into large urban centers c) They were
25. Who began excavations at Dholavira in 1990? a) abandoned d) They became nomadic
SR Rao b) BB Lal c) RS Bisht d) MR Mughal Answer: b) They were turning into large urban centers
Answer: c) RS Bisht 37. Which sites belonged to the Mature Harappan
Phase? a) Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Chanhudaro, Lothal,
Phases of Indus Valley Kalibangan, Banawali, Sutkagendor and Surkotda b) Only
Civilisation Harappa and Mohenjodaro c) Only sites in Pakistan d)
26. How many phases is the Harappan culture period Only sites in India
divided into? a) Two b) Three c) Four d) Five Answer: a) Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Chanhudaro,
Answer: b) Three Lothal, Kalibangan, Banawali, Sutkagendor and
27. What is the time period of the Early Harappan Surkotda
Phase? a) 3400 to 2700 BC b) 3300 to 2600 BC c) 3200 Extent of Indus Valley
to 2500 BC d) 3500 to 2800 BC
Answer: b) 3300 to 2600 BC Civilisation
28. The Early Harappan Phase is related to which 38. What is the easternmost site of Indus Valley
phase? a) Hakra Phase b) Mature Phase c) Late Phase Civilisation? a) Harappa b) Alamgirpur (Meerut, Uttar
d) Urban Phase Pradesh) c) Kalibangan d) Lothal
Answer: a) Hakra Phase Answer: b) Alamgirpur (Meerut, Uttar Pradesh)
29. Where was the Hakra Phase identified? a) Indus 39. What is the westernmost site of Indus Valley
River Valley b) Ganges River Valley c) Ghaggar-Hakra Civilisation? a) Harappa b) Mohenjodaro c) Sutkagan
River Valley d) Brahmaputra River Valley Dor (Baluchistan) d) Chanhudaro
Answer: c) Ghaggar-Hakra River Valley Answer: c) Sutkagan Dor (Baluchistan)
30. What characterized the Early Harappan Phase? a)40. What is the northernmost site of Indus Valley
Decentralized authority and rural life b) Centralized Civilisation? a) Harappa b) Manda (Jammu) c) Ropar d)
authority and increasingly urban quality of life c) No Kalibangan
authority and nomadic life d) Military authority and fortified Answer: b) Manda (Jammu)
settlements 41. What is the southernmost site of Indus Valley
Answer: b) Centralized authority and increasinglyCivilisation? a) Lothal b) Dholavira c) Daimabad
urban quality of life (Maharashtra) d) Surkotada
31. What were established during the Early HarappanAnswer: c) Daimabad (Maharashtra)
Phase? a) Military networks b) Trade networks c) 42. What is the time period of the Late Harappan
Religious networks d) Political networks Phase? a) 2000 to 1400 BC b) 1900 to 1300 BC c) 1800
Answer: b) Trade networks to 1200 BC d) 2100 to 1500 BC
32. Which crops were grown during the EarlyAnswer: b) 1900 to 1300 BC
Harappan Phase? a) Wheat, rice, barley b) Peas,43. When are the signs of gradual decline of Harappan
sesame seeds, dates, cotton c) Millet, corn, sugarcane d) Civilisation believed to have started? a) Around 1900
Only wheat and barley BC b) Around 1800 BC c) Around 1700 BC d) Around
Answer: b) Peas, sesame seeds, dates, cotton 2000 BC
33. Which site represents the phase leading up to Answer: b) Around 1800 BC
Mature Harappan Phase? a) Harappa b) Mohenjodaro c) 44. By which year were most of the cities abandoned?
Kot Diji d) Kalibangan a) 1800 BC b) 1700 BC c) 1600 BC d) 1900 BC
Answer: c) Kot Diji Answer: b) 1700 BC
34. What is the time period of the Mature Harappan 45. Till when does archaeological data indicate the
Phase? a) 2700 to 2000 BC b) 2600 to 1900 BC c) 2500continuation of Late Harappan culture? a) 1200-1100
to 1800 BC d) 2800 to 2100 BC BC b) 1000-900 BC c) 800-700 BC d) 1100-1000 BC
Answer: b) 2600 to 1900 BC Answer: b) 1000-900 BC

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Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
46. Where is the late Harappan phase found in58. Who discovered the Harappan seals in 1912? a)
Gujarat? a) Lothal and Dholavira b) Rangpur and Rojdi inCharles Masson b) Cunningham c) J Fleet d) John
Kathiawar peninsula c) Surkotada and Desalpur d) Only inMarshall
Rangpur Answer: c) J Fleet
Answer: b) Rangpur and Rojdi in Kathiawar peninsula 59. When did Cunningham visit Harappa? a) 1850 and
1870 b) 1853 and 1873 c) 1855 and 1875 d) 1860 and
Contemporary Civilisations 1880
47. Which civilisation existed on the banks of Nile Answer: b) 1853 and 1873
river contemporary to Indus Valley Civilisation? a) 60. Why was the Indus Valley Civilisation originally
Mesopotamian b) Egyptian c) Chinese d) Persian called Harappan Civilisation? a) It was the largest site b)
Answer: b) Egyptian It was the most important site c) After the discovery of this
48. What was the Egyptian civilisation known forsite d) It had the most artifacts
during this period? a) Trade b) The civilisation of theAnswer: c) After the discovery of this site
Pharaohs who built the pyramids c) Agriculture d) Warfare
Answer: b) The civilisation of the Pharaohs who built Mohenjodaro
the pyramids 61. Which is the largest site of the Harappan
49. Which civilisation existed on the banks of Civilisation? a) Harappa b) Mohenjodaro c) Dholavira d)
Euphrates and Tigris rivers? a) Egyptian b) Kalibangan
Mesopotamia (Modern Iraq) c) Chinese d) Persian Answer: b) Mohenjodaro
Answer: b) Mesopotamia (Modern Iraq) 62. Who discovered Mohenjodaro? a) Daya Ram Sahni
50. What was the Mesopotamian civilisation alsob) RD Banerjee c) John Marshall d) Cunningham
known as? a) Babylonian civilisation b) Sumerian Answer: b) RD Banerjee
civilisation c) Assyrian civilisation d) Persian civilisation 63. In which year was Mohenjodaro discovered? a)
Answer: b) Sumerian civilisation 1921 b) 1922 c) 1923 d) 1924
51. What kind of contacts did Harappans have with Answer: b) 1922
Mesopotamia? a) Military contacts b) Religious contacts 64. What does 'Mohenjodaro' mean in Sindhi
c) Trading contacts d) Cultural contacts only language? a) Great City b) Mound of the Dead c) City of
Answer: c) Trading contacts Peace d) Ancient Settlement
52. Which river was associated with the Chinese Answer: b) Mound of the Dead
civilisation contemporary to Harappans? a) Yellow 65. What are the dimensions of the Great Bath of
River b) Hwang Ho river c) Yangtze River d) Mekong River Mohenjodaro? a) 40 feet length, 24 feet wide, 9 feet deep
Answer: b) Hwang Ho river b) 39 feet length, 23 feet wide, 8 feet deep c) 38 feet
length, 22 feet wide, 7 feet deep d) 41 feet length, 25 feet
Cities of Indus Valley wide, 10 feet deep
Civilisation - Harappa Answer: b) 39 feet length, 23 feet wide, 8 feet deep
53. On the banks of which river is Harappa located? a)66. Where is the Great Bath located in Mohenjodaro?
Indus b) Ravi c) Chenab d) Jhelum a) In the lower town b) At the centre of the citadel c)
Answer: b) Ravi Outside the city walls d) Near the granary
54. Which was the first Indus site to be discovered Answer: b) At the centre of the citadel
and excavated? a) Mohenjodaro b) Harappa c) 67. What is the Great Bath remarkable for? a) Its size
Kalibangan d) Lothal only b) Its beautiful brickwork c) Its depth only d) Its
Answer: b) Harappa location only
55. In which year was Harappa first excavated? a) Answer: b) Its beautiful brickwork
1920 b) 1921 c) 1922 d) 1923 68. What is the floor of the Great Bath made of? a)
Answer: b) 1921 Stone slabs b) Burnt bricks set in gypsum and mortars c)
56. Who first visited Harappa near Sahiwal in Punjab? Mud bricks d) Wood planks
a) John Marshall b) Cunningham c) Charles Masson d) JAnswer: b) Burnt bricks set in gypsum and mortars
Fleet 69. What are the dimensions of the Great Granary in
Answer: c) Charles Masson Mohenjodaro? a) 160 feet length, 60 feet width b) 150
57. When did Charles Masson visit Harappa? a) feet length, 50 feet width c) 140 feet length, 40 feet width
1825-1826 b) 1826-1827 c) 1827-1828 d) 1828-1829 d) 170 feet length, 70 feet width
Answer: b) 1826-1827 Answer: b) 150 feet length, 50 feet width

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Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
70. Where is the Great Granary located in
Mohenjodaro? a) In the lower town b) Outside the city c)
Ropar
Within the citadel d) Near the river 81. What was significant about Ropar in terms of
Answer: c) Within the citadel excavation? a) It was the largest site b) It was the first
71. What other important buildings are found insite to be excavated after independence c) It had the most
Mohenjodaro? a) Only the granary b) An angular artifacts d) It was the oldest site
multi-pillared assembly hall and a big rectangular buildingAnswer: b) It was the first site to be excavated after
for administrative purpose c) Only religious buildings d) independence
Only residential buildings 82. What were the buildings found at Ropar made of?
Answer: b) An angular multi-pillared assembly halla) Only baked bricks b) Only mud bricks c) Stone and soil
and a big rectangular building for administrative d) Wood and clay
purpose Answer: c) Stone and soil
83. In which state is Ropar located? a) Haryana b)
Chanhudaro Rajasthan c) Punjab d) Gujarat
72. What is Chanhudaro known as? a) Manchester of Answer: c) Punjab
India b) Lancashire of India c) Birmingham of India d) 84. How many cultural periods or phases has Ropar
Sheffield of India yielded? a) Five b) Six c) Seven d) Eight
Answer: b) Lancashire of India Answer: b) Six
73. What is unique about Chanhudaro among Indus 85. Which cultures are represented in the sequence at
cities? a) It is the largest city b) It is the only Indus city Ropar? a) Only Harappan culture b) Harappan, Painted
without a citadel c) It has the most artifacts d) It is theGrey Ware (PGW) Culture, Northern Black Polished (NBP)
oldest city Ware Culture, Kushana, Gupta, medieval to present day c)
Answer: b) It is the only Indus city without a citadel Only ancient cultures d) Only medieval cultures
74. What was Chanhudaro perhaps a great centre of? Answer: b) Harappan, Painted Grey Ware (PGW)
a) Pottery manufacturing b) Bead manufacturing c) Metal Culture, Northern Black Polished (NBP) Ware Culture,
working d) Seal making Kushana, Gupta, medieval to present day
Answer: b) Bead manufacturing
Lothal
Kalibangan 86. What was the most unique feature of Lothal? a) Its
75. What is the literal meaning of Kalibangan? a) Blackgranary b) Its dockyard, the world's first tidal port c) Its
pottery b) Black bangle c) Black seal d) Black stone citadel d) Its drainage system
Answer: b) Black bangle Answer: b) Its dockyard, the world's first tidal port
76. What does Kalibangan have the largest 87. What did Lothal serve as for the Indus people? a)
concentration of? a) Pottery b) Seals c) Harappan Administrative center b) Religious center c) Main seaport
settlements d) Granaries d) Military base
Answer: c) Harappan settlements Answer: c) Main seaport
77. What evidence does Kalibangan yield? a) Evidence 88. What were used in the dockyards of Lothal? a)
of late Harappan period b) Evidence of early HarappanStone blocks with cement b) Baked bricks with lime plaster
period c) Evidence of mature Harappan period only d) c) Mud bricks with clay d) Wood planks with pitch
Evidence of post-Harappan period Answer: b) Baked bricks with lime plaster
Answer: b) Evidence of early Harappan period 89. In which state is Lothal situated? a) Rajasthan b)
78. What was a notable feature of houses inPunjab c) Gujarat d) Haryana
Kalibangan? a) They were very large b) Many houses Answer: c) Gujarat
had their own wells c) They were made of stone d) They 90. What did Lothal serve for in terms of trade? a) Only
had multiple stories local trade b) Long distance trade and supplied cities with
Answer: b) Many houses had their own wells raw materials c) Only regional trade d) Only export trade
79. How many different cultural layers can be seen at Answer: b) Long distance trade and supplied cities
Kalibangan? a) Two b) Three c) Four d) Five with raw materials
Answer: b) Three 91. What raw materials did Lothal supply? a) Only
80. What are the three cultural layers seen at cotton b) Cotton from Gujarat and copper from Rajasthan
Kalibangan? a) Harappan, Mauryan, Gupta b) Indus,c) Only copper d) Only precious stones
Jhukar and Jhangar c) Early, Middle, Late Harappan d) Answer: b) Cotton from Gujarat and copper from
Pre-Harappan, Harappan, Post-Harappan Rajasthan
Answer: b) Indus, Jhukar and Jhangar

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Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
92. What has Lothal been perceived by historians to fortifications, with entrances through gateways c) By
be? a) A religious center b) An outpost for sea-trade with natural barriers d) By water bodies
contemporary West Asian Societies, particularly Oman c) Answer: b) By strong rectangular fortifications, with
A manufacturing center d) A residential area entrances through gateways
Answer: b) An outpost for sea-trade with 102. What is Dholavira considered as in terms of
contemporary West Asian Societies, particularly Harappan Civilisation? a) The religious center b) The
Oman administrative center c) The warehousing settlement d)
93. What is Lothal known as in terms of Harappan The manufacturing center
Civilisation? a) The Birmingham of Harappan CivilisationAnswer: c) The warehousing settlement
b) The Lancashire of Harappan Civilisation c) The 103. What does Dholavira consist of for public
Manchester of Harappan Civilisation d) The Sheffield ofpurposes? a) A small courtyard b) A large open area in
Harappan Civilisation the settlement where public ceremonies could be held c)
Answer: c) The Manchester of Harappan Civilisation Multiple small areas d) A covered hall
94. Why is Lothal called the Manchester of Harappan Answer: b) A large open area in the settlement where
Civilisation? a) For its pottery trade b) For its cotton trade public ceremonies could be held
c) For its metal trade d) For its bead trade 104. What public inscription was discovered at
Answer: b) For its cotton trade Dholavira? a) A public inscription with 5 large sized signs
b) A public inscription with 10 large sized signs of the
Banawali Harappan scripts c) A public inscription with 15 large sized
95. What is unique about Banawali among Harappan signs d) A public inscription with 20 large sized signs
cities? a) It has the largest granary b) It is the only Answer: b) A public inscription with 10 large sized
Harappan city with oval-shaped settlements, radial streets signs of the Harappan scripts
and lack of systematic drainage pattern c) It has the most 105. What else was discovered at Dholavira besides
seals d) It is the oldest city the inscription? a) Only pottery b) Water reservoirs c)
Answer: b) It is the only Harappan city with Only seals d) Only tools
oval-shaped settlements, radial streets and lack of Answer: b) Water reservoirs
systematic drainage pattern
96. What phases are found at Banawali? a) Only Town Planning
Harappan phases b) Both Pre-Harappan and Harappan106. What distinguishes the Harappan culture? a) Its
phases c) Only Pre-Harappan phases d) Only Late pottery system b) Its system of town planning c) Its
Harappan phases religious practices d) Its trade system
Answer: b) Both Pre-Harappan and Harappan phases Answer: b) Its system of town planning
97. What artifacts were recovered from Banawali? a) 107. How was the Harappan city divided? a) Into three
Only pottery b) 8-shaped jars, cooking vessels, ovens and parts b) Into two parts - the citadel on West and the Lower
painted earthen pots c) Only seals d) Only tools town on the East c) Into four parts d) Not divided
Answer: b) 8-shaped jars, cooking vessels, ovens and Answer: b) Into two parts - the citadel on West and the
painted earthen pots Lower town on the East
98. What interesting structure was found in houses at
Banawali? a) A granary type structure b) A wash basin
Citadel
type structure c) A temple type structure d) A workshop108. What was the citadel built on? a) Stone platform b)
type structure Mud brick platform c) Wood platform d) Natural hill
Answer: b) A wash basin type structure Answer: b) Mud brick platform
109. How was the size of citadel compared to lower
Dholavira town? a) Larger b) Smaller c) Same size d) Much larger
99. Dholavira is one of the two largest Harappan Answer: b) Smaller
settlements in India. What is the other? a) Kalibangan110. Was the citadel walled? a) No b) Yes c) Partially d)
b) Lothal c) Rakhigarhi in Haryana d) Banawali Only on one side
Answer: c) Rakhigarhi in Haryana Answer: b) Yes
100. What is the most unique feature of Dholavira 111. Who occupied the citadel? a) Common people b)
site? a) Its size b) Its division into three sections c) Its Members of the ruling class c) Traders d) Craftsmen
location d) Its pottery Answer: b) Members of the ruling class
Answer: b) Its division into three sections 112. What structures were found on the citadel that
101. How were two of the three parts of Dholavirawere probably used for special public purposes? a)
protected? a) By walls only b) By strong rectangular

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Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
Only houses b) The warehouse (granary) and the Great Answer: b) Water was drawn from a large well in an
Bath c) Only workshops d) Only temples adjacent room
Answer: b) The warehouse (granary) and the Great125. Where did the outlet from the Great Bath lead to?
Bath a) To the river b) To a drain c) To another tank d) To the
113. What are the dimensions of the granary in courtyard
Mohenjodaro? a) 40.7 × 110.23 m b) 45.7 × 115.23 m c) Answer: b) To a drain
50.7 × 120.23 m d) 35.7 × 105.23 m
Answer: b) 45.7 × 115.23 m
Drainage System
114. Where else are granaries found besides126. What was one of the most distinctive features of
Mohenjodaro? a) Harappa b) Kalibangan c) BothHarappan cities? a) Large buildings b) The carefully
Harappa and Kalibangan d) Lothal planned drainage system c) Wide roads d) High walls
Answer: b) Kalibangan Answer: b) The carefully planned drainage system
115. Where was the Great Bath situated in 127. How did water flow in Harappan cities? a) Water
Mohenjodaro? a) In the lower town b) In the citadel flowed from streets to houses b) Water flowed from the
mound c) Outside the city d) Near the river house to streets which had drains c) Water flowed
Answer: b) In the citadel mound randomly d) Water was stored in tanks
116. What did the Great Bath serve for? a) Regular Answer: b) Water flowed from the house to streets
bathing b) Ritual bathing c) Water storage d) Swimming which had drains
Answer: b) Ritual bathing 128. How were the drains covered? a) With wood planks
117. What was the Great Bath? a) A circular tank b) A b) With bricks or stone slabs c) With clay tiles d) They
large rectangular tank in a courtyard surrounded by a were not covered
corridor on all four sides c) A small square tank d) An Answer: b) With bricks or stone slabs
open pool 129. What were the street drains equipped with? a)
Answer: b) A large rectangular tank in a courtyard Filters b) Manholes c) Pumps d) Gates
surrounded by a corridor on all four sides Answer: b) Manholes
118. How many flights of steps led into the Great Bath130. Were drainage systems found only in larger
tank? a) One b) Two c) Three d) Four cities? a) Yes, only in larger cities b) No, also found in
Answer: b) Two smaller settlements as well c) Only in some cities d) Only
119. On which sides were the flights of steps located in administrative centers
in the Great Bath? a) East and West b) North and SouthAnswer: b) No, also found in smaller settlements as
c) All four sides d) Only on North well
Answer: b) North and South 131. At Lothal, what were houses built of? a) Baked
120. How was the tank made watertight? a) Using bricks b) Mud bricks c) Stone d) Wood
cement b) By setting bricks on edge and using a mortar of Answer: b) Mud bricks
gypsum c) Using clay lining d) Using stone slabs 132. At Lothal, what were drains made of? a) Mud
Answer: b) By setting bricks on edge and using a bricks b) Burnt bricks c) Stone d) Wood
mortar of gypsum Answer: b) Burnt bricks
121. How many sides had rooms around the Great Variations in Plan of Cities
Bath? a) Two sides b) Three sides c) Four sides d) One 133. Do all Harappan settlements have uniform plan?
side a) Yes, all have uniform plan b) Most have uniform plan,
Answer: b) Three sides but there are variations c) No, all are different d) Only
122. What was found in one of the rooms beside the some have uniform plan
Great Bath? a) A granary b) A large well c) Storage areas Answer: b) Most have uniform plan, but there are
d) Workshops variations
Answer: b) A large well 134. At which sites was the entire settlement fortified?
123. What was the floor of the Great Bath made of? a)a) Harappa and Mohenjodaro b) Dholavira and Lothal
Stone slabs b) Burnt bricks c) Mud bricks d) Wood (Gujarat) c) Kalibangan and Banawali d) Ropar and
Answer: b) Burnt bricks Alamgirpur
124. How was water supplied to the Great Bath? a) Answer: b) Dholavira and Lothal (Gujarat)
From rain water b) Water was drawn from a large well in135. At Dholavira and Lothal, how were sections
an adjacent room c) From the river d) From undergroundwithin the town separated? a) By water bodies b) By
springs walls c) By roads d) By open spaces
Answer: b) By walls

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Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
136. Was the citadel within Lothal walled off? a) Yes, it 145. Who excavated Chanhudaro and in which year?
was walled off b) No, but was built at a height c) Partiallya) RD Banerjee in 1925 b) N G Majumdar in 1931 c) MS
walled d) Only on three sides Vats in 1931 d) Auriel Stein in 1929
Answer: b) No, but was built at a height Answer: b) N G Majumdar in 1931
137. How many parts was Dholavira divided into? a) 146. What major findings were discovered at
Two parts b) Three parts c) Four parts d) Five parts Chanhudaro? a) Only pottery b) Bangle factory, inkpot,
Answer: b) Three parts bead-makers shop, the footprint of a dog chasing a cat,
cart with a seated driver c) Only seals d) Only tools
Important Sites - Detailed Answer: b) Bangle factory, inkpot, bead-makers shop,
Information the footprint of a dog chasing a cat, cart with a seated
138. Who excavated Harappa and in which year? a) RD driver
Banerjee in 1925 b) Daya Ram Sahni in 1921 c) John 147. Who excavated Rangpur and in which years? a)
Marshall in 1922 d) Cunningham in 1920 NG Majumdar in 1935 b) MS Vats, SR Rao in 1931, 1957
Answer: b) Daya Ram Sahni in 1921 c) YD Sharma in 1953 d) Fazal Ahmad in 1935
139. What major findings were discovered at Answer: b) MS Vats, SR Rao in 1931, 1957
Harappa? a) Only pottery b) Granary, workmen's quarter,148. What type of site is Rangpur? a) Early Harappan
vanity case, furnaces, piece of Pottery with Indus script, site b) Post-Harappan site c) Mature Harappan site d)
cubical limestone weight, copper Bullock cart, coffinPre-Harappan site
burials, cemetery, terracotta figurines, evidence of horse at Answer: b) Post-Harappan site
superficial level c) Only seals d) Only tools 149. What major findings were discovered at
Answer: b) Granary, workmen's quarter, vanity case, Rangpur? a) Only pottery b) Rice husk, six types of
furnaces, piece of Pottery with Indus script, cubical pottery c) Only seals d) Only tools
limestone weight, copper Bullock cart, coffin burials, Answer: b) Rice husk, six types of pottery
cemetery, terracotta figurines, evidence of horse at 150. Who excavated Amri and in which year? a) MS
superficial level Vats in 1931 b) NG Majumdar in 1935 c) Fazal Ahmad in
140. Who excavated Mohenjodaro and in which year? 1935 d) YD Sharma in 1953
a) Daya Ram Sahni in 1921 b) R D Banerjee in 1925 c)Answer: b) NG Majumdar in 1935
John Marshall in 1924 d) Cunningham in 1923 151. What major findings were discovered at Amri? a)
Answer: b) R D Banerjee in 1925 Only pottery b) Antelope evidence, Rhinoceros' evidence
141. What major findings were discovered at c) Only seals d) Only tools
Mohenjodaro? a) Only the Great Bath b) Great Bath,Answer: b) Antelope evidence, Rhinoceros' evidence
granary, Unicorn seals, Bronze Dancing Girl statue, 152. Who excavated Kot-Diji and in which years? a)
Pashupati seal, steatite statue of Beard Priest, piece of NG Majumdar in 1935 b) Fazal Ahmad, Ghurrey in 1935,
woven cloth c) Only seals d) Only pottery 1955 c) YD Sharma in 1953 d) Amlanand Ghose in 1953
Answer: b) Great Bath, granary, Unicorn seals, Bronze Answer: b) Fazal Ahmad, Ghurrey in 1935, 1955
Dancing Girl statue, Pashupati seal, steatite statue of153. What major findings were discovered at Kot-Diji?
Beard Priest, piece of woven cloth a) Only pottery b) Figurine of ox, steatite seal, terracotta
142. Who excavated Sutkagendor and in which year? beads c) Only seals d) Only tools
a) RD Banerjee in 1925 b) Auriel Stein in 1929 c) NG Answer: b) Figurine of ox, steatite seal, terracotta
Majumdar in 1931 d) MS Vats in 1931 beads
Answer: b) Auriel Stein in 1929 154. Who excavated Kalibangan and in which year? a)
143. What was Sutkagendor's significance? a) YD Sharma in 1953 b) Amlanand Ghose in 1953 c) R Rao
Religious center b) Trade point between Harappa and in 1955 d) MS Vats in 1931
Babylon c) Manufacturing center d) Administrative center Answer: b) Amlanand Ghose in 1953
Answer: b) Trade point between Harappa and Babylon 155. What major findings were discovered at
144. What major findings were discovered at Kalibangan? a) Only pottery b) Granary, ploughed field,
Sutkagendor? a) Only pottery b) Flint Blades, stonewooden drainage, evidence of earthquake, wooden
Vessels, stone Arrowheads, Shell Beads, pottery, horse plough, camel's bone, fire alters, earthen bricks instead of
remains c) Only seals d) Only tools baked one c) Only seals d) Only tools
Answer: b) Flint Blades, stone Vessels, stone Answer: b) Granary, ploughed field, wooden drainage,
Arrowheads, Shell Beads, pottery, horse remains evidence of earthquake, wooden plough, camel's
bone, fire alters, earthen bricks instead of baked one

7
Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
156. Who excavated Lothal and in which year? a)167. What major findings were discovered at
Amlanand Ghose in 1953 b) R Rao in 1955 c) YD Sharma Rakhigarhi? a) Only pottery b) Fire alters, cylindrical seal,
in 1953 d) YD Sharma in 1958 terracotta wheel c) Only seals d) Only tools
Answer: b) R Rao in 1955 Answer: b) Fire alters, cylindrical seal, terracotta
157. How many sections was Lothal divided into? a) wheel
Four sections b) Six sections c) Five sections d) Seven 168. Who excavated Banawali and in which year? a)
sections Surajbhan in 1969 b) R S Bisht in 1974 c) R S Bisht in
Answer: b) Six sections 1990 d) George F Dales in 1973-1979
158. What major findings were discovered at Lothal? Answer: b) R S Bisht in 1974
a) Only pottery b) Bead making factory, rice husk, ivory 169. What major findings were discovered at
weight balance, dockyard, fire alters, terracotta figure of Banawali? a) Only pottery b) Remains of street and
horse c) Only seals d) Only tools drains, beads, barley, oval shaped settlement, the only city
Answer: b) Bead making factory, rice husk, ivory with radial streets, toy plough, the largest number of barley
weight balance, dockyard, fire alters, terracotta figure grains c) Only seals d) Only tools
of horse Answer: b) Remains of street and drains, beads,
159. Who excavated Ropar and in which year? a) R barley, oval shaped settlement, the only city with
Rao in 1955 b) YD Sharma in 1953 c) YD Sharma in 1958 radial streets, toy plough, the largest number of barley
d) Amlanand Ghose in 1953 grains
Answer: b) YD Sharma in 1953 170. Who excavated Dholavira and in which year? a) R
160. What major findings were discovered at Ropar?S Bisht in 1974 b) R S Bisht in 1990 c) George F Dales in
a) Only pottery b) Five-fold sequence of culture, stone and 1973-1979 d) SR Rao in 1963
mud house, evidence of dog burial, alongwith humanAnswer: b) R S Bisht in 1990
burial c) Only seals d) Only tools 171. What major findings were discovered at
Answer: b) Five-fold sequence of culture, stone and Dholavira? a) Only pottery b) Only site to be divided into
mud house, evidence of dog burial, alongwith human three parts, giant water reservoir, unique water harnessing
burial system, dams, embankments, signboard with Indus script
161. Who excavated Alamgirpur and in which year? a)c) Only seals d) Only tools
YD Sharma in 1953 b) YD Sharma in 1958 c) J P Joshi inAnswer: b) Only site to be divided into three parts,
1964 d) R Rao in 1955 giant water reservoir, unique water harnessing
Answer: b) YD Sharma in 1958 system, dams, embankments, signboard with Indus
162. What major findings were discovered at script
Alamgirpur? a) Pottery, animal bones, plant fossils, 172. Who excavated Balakot and in which years? a) R
copper tools b) Only pottery c) Only seals d) Only tools S Bisht in 1990 b) George F Dales in 1973-1979 c) SR
Answer: a) Pottery, animal bones, plant fossils, copperRao in 1963 d) A Ghosh in 1963
tools Answer: b) George F Dales in 1973-1979
163. Who excavated Surkotada and in which year? a) 173. What major findings were discovered at Balakot?
YD Sharma in 1958 b) J P Joshi in 1964 c) Surajbhan in a) Only pottery b) Early Harappan findings, bricks, bead
1969 d) R S Bisht in 1974 workshop c) Only seals d) Only tools
Answer: b) J P Joshi in 1964 Answer: b) Early Harappan findings, bricks, bead
164. What major findings were discovered at workshop
Surkotada? a) Only pottery b) Bones of horses, beads,174. Who excavated Desalpur or Gunthli and in which
stone covered beads c) Only seals d) Only tools year? a) George F Dales in 1973-1979 b) SR Rao, A
Answer: b) Bones of horses, beads, stone coveredGhosh in 1963 c) R S Bisht in 1990 d) YD Sharma in 1958
beads Answer: b) SR Rao, A Ghosh in 1963
165. Who excavated Rakhigarhi and in which year? a)175. What major findings were discovered at
J P Joshi in 1964 b) Surajbhan in 1969 c) R S Bisht in Desalpur? a) Only pottery b) Copper and Teracotta seals,
1974 d) R S Bisht in 1990 brown pottery c) Only seals d) Only tools
Answer: b) Surajbhan in 1969 Answer: b) Copper and Teracotta seals, brown pottery
166. What is significant about Rakhigarhi? a) It is the
oldest site b) Largest Harappan site c) It has the most
Lower Town
seals d) It has the best pottery 176. How was the size of lower town compared to the
Answer: b) Largest Harappan site citadel? a) Smaller b) Larger in size c) Same size d)
Much smaller

8
Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
Answer: b) Larger in size 191. What did the kitchen have? a) Only storage jars b)
177. Who inhabited the lower town? a) Ruling class b) A fire-place and large jars of pottery for storing grain or oil
Common people c) Priests d) Traders only c) Only a fire-place d) Only cooking utensils
Answer: b) Common people Answer: b) A fire-place and large jars of pottery for
178. What system did houses in the lower cities storing grain or oil
follow? a) Circular system b) Grid system (roads cut 192. What was adjacent to the kitchen? a) The
across one another at right angles) c) Random system d)courtyard b) The drain c) The bedroom d) The entrance
Radial system Answer: b) The drain
Answer: b) Grid system (roads cut across one another 193. Where were bathrooms built? a) In the center of
at right angles) the house b) On one side of the house c) Outside the
179. How was the city divided in the lower town? a) house d) Near the entrance
Into sectors b) Into blocks c) Into quarters d) Into districts Answer: b) On one side of the house
Answer: b) Into blocks 194. How were bathroom drains connected? a) To wells
180. How wide were the streets? a) Streets were narrowb) With street drain c) To storage tanks d) To courtyards
b) Streets were wide c) Streets had varying widths d)Answer: b) With street drain
Streets were very narrow 195. What did the courtyard have? a) Only seating area
Answer: b) Streets were wide b) An oven for baking bread c) Only storage area d) Only
181. How wide was the main street? a) About eight work space
metres b) About ten metres c) About twelve metres d)Answer: b) An oven for baking bread
About fifteen metres 196. What was the courtyard probably the centre of?
Answer: b) About ten metres a) Only cooking b) Activities such as cooking and weaving,
particularly during hot and dry weather c) Only weaving d)
Residential Buildings Only storage
182. How many storeys high were the housesAnswer: b) Activities such as cooking and weaving,
generally? a) Three or four storeys b) One or two storeysparticularly during hot and dry weather
high c) Only one storey d) Four to five storeys 197. Why were there no windows in the walls along
Answer: b) One or two storeys high the main road? a) For security reasons b) Harappans had
183. How were rooms built in the houses? a) In a lineconcern for privacy c) To save construction material d)
b) Around a courtyard c) Randomly d) In clusters Due to weather conditions
Answer: b) Around a courtyard Answer: b) Harappans had concern for privacy
184. What were houses built of? a) Stone b) Bricks c)198. What does the main entrance not give? a) Easy
Wood d) Clay access b) A direct view of the interior or the courtyard c)
Answer: b) Bricks Protection from weather d) Ventilation
185. What kind of walls did the houses have? a) Thin, Answer: b) A direct view of the interior or the
weak walls b) Thick, strong walls c) Medium thicknesscourtyard
walls d) Variable thickness walls 199. What did some houses have for water supply? a)
Answer: b) Thick, strong walls Public wells nearby b) Their own wells c) Water storage
186. How were the walls treated? a) Left bare b) tanks d) Water delivery systems
Plastered and coloured c) Only plastered d) Only coloured Answer: b) Their own wells
Answer: b) Plastered and coloured 200. What did having their own wells mean? a) Better
187. What kind of roofs did the houses have? a) quality water b) Water was always available inside the
Sloped roofs b) Flat roofs c) Curved roofs d) Pointed roofs house c) More expensive houses d) Higher status
Answer: b) Flat roofs Answer: b) Water was always available inside the
188. How many windows did the houses have? a)house
Many windows b) Few windows c) No windows d) 201. What do some houses have remains of? a)
Windows on all sides Granaries b) Staircases to reach a second storey or the
Answer: b) Few windows roof c) Wells d) Workshops
189. How many doors did the houses have? a) Few Answer: b) Staircases to reach a second storey or the
doors b) Numbers of doors c) Only one door d) Two doors roof
Answer: b) Numbers of doors 202. What type of bricks did the Harappans use? a)
190. What were the doors probably made of? a) Stone Dried bricks b) Burnt bricks c) Stone bricks d) Clay bricks
b) Wood c) Metal d) Clay Answer: b) Burnt bricks
Answer: b) Wood

9
Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
203. What type of bricks were used in Egypt? a) Burnt 214. What did the Harappan probably use for
bricks b) Dried bricks c) Stone bricks d) Baked bricks ploughing? a) Iron ploughshare b) Wooden ploughshare
Answer: b) Dried bricks c) Bronze ploughshare d) Stone ploughshare
204. What was found in Mesopotamia regarding Answer: b) Wooden ploughshare
bricks? a) Use of dried bricks b) Use of baked bricks c) 215. What may have been used for harvesting the
Use of stone bricks d) No use of bricks crops? a) Iron sickles b) Stone sickles c) Bronze sickles
Answer: b) Use of baked bricks d) Wooden sickles
Answer: b) Stone sickles
Economic Conditions - 216. What indicate that the bull was known and used
Agriculture for ploughing? a) Written records b) Representations on
205. What were the Harappans mainly? a) Traders b) seals and terracotta sculpture c) Oral traditions d)
Agriculturists c) Craftsmen d) Warriors Religious texts
Answer: b) Agriculturists Answer: b) Representations on seals and terracotta
206. What other activities were the Harappans sculpture
engaged in? a) Only trade b) Trade and various other217. Where have terracotta models of the plough been
occupations c) Only crafts d) Only religious activities found? a) Harappa and Mohenjodaro b) Sites in Cholistan
Answer: b) Trade and various other occupations and Banawali c) Kalibangan and Lothal d) Dholavira and
207. Where were most Harappan villages situated? a)Surkotada
In mountains b) Near the flood plains c) Near forests d) Answer: b) Sites in Cholistan and Banawali
Near deserts 218. Where have archaeologists found evidence of a
Answer: b) Near the flood plains ploughed field? a) Banawali b) Kalibangan (Rajasthan) c)
208. What did the location of villages help in? a) Harappa d) Lothal
Defense b) Producing sufficient foodgrains not only to feed Answer: b) Kalibangan (Rajasthan)
themselves but also the town people c) Trade d) Religious 219. Which period is the ploughed field at Kalibangan
activities associated with? a) Mature Harappan Period b) Early
Answer: b) Producing sufficient foodgrains not only to Harappan Period c) Late Harappan Period d)
feed themselves but also the town people Post-Harappan Period
Answer: b) Early Harappan Period
Sowing 220. What did the field at Kalibangan have? a) One set
209. When did the Indus people sow seeds? a) In the of furrows b) Two sets of furrows at right angles to each
month of October b) In the month of November c) In the other c) Three sets of furrows d) Random furrows
month of December d) In the month of January Answer: b) Two sets of furrows at right angles to each
Answer: b) In the month of November other
210. When did they sow seeds in relation to flood221. What did the furrows at Kalibangan suggest? a)
water? a) Before flood water came b) When the flood Use of advanced tools b) That two different crops were
water receded c) During the flood d) Long after flood watergrown together c) Irrigation system d) Storage methods
receded Answer: b) That two different crops were grown
Answer: b) When the flood water receded together
211. When did they reap their harvests? a) In March b)
In April c) In May d) In June
Crops
Answer: b) In April 222. What were the Indus people the earliest ones to
212. What did they harvest in April? a) Rice and millet produce? a) Wheat b) Cotton c) Rice d) Barley
b) Wheat and barley c) Cotton and sesame d) Peas andAnswer: b) Cotton
lentils 223. How common are findings of rice cultivation in
Answer: b) Wheat and barley Harappan sites? a) Very common b) Relatively rare c)
213. When did they reap before? a) Before winter b)Found everywhere d) Not found at all
Before the advent of the next flood c) Before summer d) Answer: b) Relatively rare
Before spring 224. Which site shows evidence that people used
Answer: b) Before the advent of the next flood rice? a) Harappa b) Lothal c) Mohenjodaro d) Kalibangan
Answer: b) Lothal
Plough 225. What are the main crops grown in Harappan
civilization? a) Only wheat and barley b) Wheat, barley,

10
Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
rai, peas, sesame, lentil, millets, rice c) Only cotton and 237. Where were foodgrains stored? a) In houses b) In
sesame d) Only cereals granaries c) In pits d) In baskets
Answer: b) Wheat, barley, rai, peas, sesame, lentil, Answer: b) In granaries
millets, rice 238. At which sites have remains of granaries been
226. At which site has barley been discovered? a)found? a) All Harappan sites b) Mohenjodaro, Harappa
Lothal b) Banawali c) Harappa d) Mohenjodaro and Kalibangan c) Only Mohenjodaro d) Only Harappa
Answer: b) Banawali Answer: b) Mohenjodaro, Harappa and Kalibangan
227. From which sites are millets found? a) Sites in
Domestication of Animals
Rajasthan b) Sites in Gujarat c) Sites in Punjab d) Sites in
Haryana 239. On what scale were animals domesticated in
Answer: b) Sites in Gujarat Harappan times? a) Small scale b) Large scale c)
Medium scale d) Not at all
Irrigation Answer: b) Large scale
228. What type of lands were most Harappan sites 240. Which animals were domesticated by
located in? a) Fertile lands b) Semi-arid lands c) DesertHarappans? a) Only cattle b) Oxen, buffalo, goat, sheep,
lands d) Mountainous lands dog, cat and pig c) Only goats and sheep d) Only dogs
Answer: b) Semi-arid lands and cats
229. What was required for agriculture in semi-aridAnswer: b) Oxen, buffalo, goat, sheep, dog, cat and
lands? a) Fertilizers b) Irrigation c) Better seeds d) Morepig
labour 241. Which animals were used for carriage purposes?
Answer: b) Irrigation a) Oxen and buffalo b) Camels and asses c) Goats and
230. What were used for storing water in Baluchistan?sheep d) Dogs and cats
a) Wells b) Gabarbands or nalas enclosed by dams c)Answer: b) Camels and asses
Tanks d) Reservoirs 242. Which bulls were favoured by the Harappan? a)
Answer: b) Gabarbands or nalas enclosed by dams Plain bulls b) Humped bulls c) Large bulls d) White bulls
231. What seem to be absent in Harappan irrigation? Answer: b) Humped bulls
a) Wells b) Channel or canals c) Dams d) Reservoirs 243. From where does evidence of the horse come? a)
Answer: b) Channel or canals Clear remains at multiple sites b) A doubtful terracotta
232. Where have traces of canals been found? a) figurine from Lothal c) Definite skeletal remains d) Written
Punjab b) The Harappan site of Shortughai in Afghanistan records
c) Sind d) Gujarat Answer: b) A doubtful terracotta figurine from Lothal
Answer: b) The Harappan site of Shortughai in244. From which site are the remains of the horse
Afghanistan reported? a) Lothal b) Surkotada (Gujarat) c) Harappa d)
233. Have traces of canals been found in Punjab or Mohenjodaro
Sind? a) Yes, many traces b) No c) Only in Punjab d) OnlyAnswer: b) Surkotada (Gujarat)
in Sind 245. Was horse in regular use in Harappan times? a)
Answer: b) No Yes, very commonly used b) No, but horse was not in
234. What is a possible reason for not finding canals regular use c) Only for transportation d) Only for warfare
in Punjab or Sind? a) They were never built b) It is Answer: b) No, but horse was not in regular use
possible that ancient canals dried up long ago c) They246. Which other large animals were known to
were destroyed in wars d) They were filled with sand Harappans? a) Only elephants b) Elephants and
Answer: b) It is possible that ancient canals dried up rhinoceros c) Only rhinoceros d) Tigers and lions
long ago Answer: b) Elephants and rhinoceros
235. What else was likely used for irrigation? a) Rain 247. Who domesticated elephants among the
water b) Water drawn from wells c) River water directly d) Harappans? a) All Harappan people b) People in Gujarat
Ground water c) People in Punjab d) People in Sind
Answer: b) Water drawn from wells Answer: b) People in Gujarat
236. What may have been used to store water for 248. What other animals were known to the Harappan
agriculture in Dholavira? a) Wells b) Water reservoirs c) people? a) Only domestic animals b) Bull, camel, donkey
Canals d) Natural lakes c) Only wild animals d) Marine animals
Answer: b) Water reservoirs Answer: b) Bull, camel, donkey
Storage Occupations

11
Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
249. In what occupations were Harappans engaged? 260. Where have many seals of Harappan civilisation
a) Only farming b) Weavers, mason, potters,been discovered? a) Egypt b) Mesopotamia c) Central
bead-makers, boat-maker, seal-maker c) Only trading d) Asia d) Persia
Only crafts Answer: b) Mesopotamia
Answer: b) Weavers, mason, potters, bead-makers, 261. From what time period do Mesopotamian records
boat-maker, seal-maker refer to trade relations with Meluha? a) About 2450 BC
250. Where have bead-making factories been found? b) About 2350 BC c) About 2250 BC d) About 2550 BC
a) Harappa and Mohenjodaro b) Chanhudaro and Lothal Answer: b) About 2350 BC
c) Kalibangan and Banawali d) Dholavira and Surkotada 262. What was the ancient name given to Indus
Answer: b) Chanhudaro and Lothal region? a) Dilmun b) Meluha c) Magan d) Harappa
Answer: b) Meluha
Trade and Commerce 263. How many intermediate trading stations did
251. How is the importance of trade in the life of the Mesopotamian texts speak of? a) One b) Two c) Three
Indus people known? a) Through written records b) By d) Four
the presence of numerous seals, uniform script andAnswer: b) Two
regulated weights and measures c) Through oral traditions 264. What were the two intermediate trading stations
d) Through religious texts called? a) Meluha and Harappa b) Dilmun and Magan c)
Answer: b) By the presence of numerous seals,Babylon and Sumer d) Indus and Saraswati
uniform script and regulated weights and measures Answer: b) Dilmun and Magan
252. In what materials did they carry on trade? a) Only 265. Where did these trading stations lay? a) Between
metals b) Stone, metal, shell c) Only precious stones d) Egypt and Mesopotamia b) Between Mesopotamia and
Only pottery Meluha c) Between Persia and India d) Between Central
Answer: b) Stone, metal, shell Asia and India
253. Did they use metal money? a) Yes, extensively b) Answer: b) Between Mesopotamia and Meluha
They did not use metal money c) Only gold coins d) Only 266. What can Dilmun be identified with? a) A city in
silver coins Iran b) Bahrain on the Persian Gulf c) A city in Afghanistan
Answer: b) They did not use metal money d) A port in Oman
254. How were all exchanges carried on? a) Through Answer: b) Bahrain on the Persian Gulf
coins b) Through barter c) Through credit system d) 267. From where was merchandise shipped? a)
Through tokens Harappa b) Lothal c) Mohenjodaro d) Kalibangan
Answer: b) Through barter Answer: b) Lothal
255. What types of trade were the Harappans engaged 268. Where were incoming goods received? a) Different
in? a) Only internal trade b) Internal as well as externalports b) Here (Lothal) c) Mohenjodaro d) Various cities
trade c) Only external trade d) Only local trade Answer: b) Here (Lothal)
Answer: b) Internal as well as external trade 269. What were the items of exports? a) Only pottery b)
256. What was used for internal trade? a) Ships b)Pottery, grains, cotton goods, spices, stone beads, pearls
Carts with solid wheel c) Animals only d) Boats and eye paint c) Only cotton goods d) Only precious
Answer: b) Carts with solid wheel stones
257. How was external trade carried out? a) ThroughAnswer: b) Pottery, grains, cotton goods, spices,
carts b) Through ships c) Through animals d) Through stone beads, pearls and eye paint
land routes only 270. What did the Harappans carry on long distance
Answer: b) Through ships trade for? a) Gold b) Lapis lazuli (Blue rock) c) Silver d)
258. Where did they practice navigation? a) On riversCopper
only b) On the coast of the Arabian Sea c) On lakes d) On Answer: b) Lapis lazuli (Blue rock)
the Bay of Bengal 271. What may lapis have contributed to? a) Economic
Answer: b) On the coast of the Arabian Sea wealth b) The social prestige of the ruling class c)
259. With which regions did the Harappan have Religious practices d) Trade relationships
commercial links? a) Only local regions b) Rajasthan, Answer: b) The social prestige of the ruling class
Afghanistan and Iran c) Only neighboring areas d) Only 272. Where had Harappans set up a trading colony? a)
Central Asia Central Asia b) Northern Afghanistan c) Iran d)
Answer: b) Rajasthan, Afghanistan and Iran Mesopotamia
Answer: b) Northern Afghanistan

12
Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
273. What did the trading colony in Northern
Afghanistan evidently facilitate? a) Religious spread b)
Food
Trade with Central Asia c) Military conquest d) Cultural285. What did the people of Harappan Civilisation eat?
exchange a) Only vegetarian food b) A wide range of plant and
Answer: b) Trade with Central Asia animal products including fish and meat, wheat, barley,
maize, millet, pulses, rice, fruits and other eatables c) Only
Lists of Imports cereals d) Only meat
274. From where was gold imported? a) Iran andAnswer: b) A wide range of plant and animal products
Central Asia b) Afghanistan, Karnataka c) Oman and including fish and meat, wheat, barley, maize, millet,
Bahrain d) Mesopotamia and Egypt pulses, rice, fruits and other eatables
Answer: b) Afghanistan, Karnataka 286. Which animals were domesticated by the
275. From where was silver imported? a) Iran b) Harappans for food? a) Only cattle b) Cattle, sheep,
Afghanistan c) Central Asia d) Karnataka goat, buffalo and pig c) Only sheep and goat d) Only
Answer: b) Afghanistan buffalo
276. From where was copper imported? a) AfghanistanAnswer: b) Cattle, sheep, goat, buffalo and pig
and Iran b) Khetri (Rajasthan), Oman c) Central Asia and
Karnataka d) Mesopotamia and Egypt
Clothes
Answer: b) Khetri (Rajasthan), Oman 287. What did the Harappans know how to do with
277. From where was tin imported? a) Rajasthan and cotton? a) Only grow it b) Weave cotton c) Only process it
Oman b) Afghanistan, Iran c) Central Asia and Karnataka d) Only trade it
d) Mesopotamia and Gujarat Answer: b) Weave cotton
Answer: b) Afghanistan, Iran 288. What evidences the knowledge of cotton
278. From where was carnelian imported? a)weaving? a) Written records b) The finding of clay
Afghanistan b) Saurashtra c) Central Asia d) Iran spindles c) Cloth remains d) Loom remains
Answer: b) Saurashtra Answer: b) The finding of clay spindles
279. From where was jade imported? a) Afghanistan b)289. What were most clothes made of? a) Wool b)
Central Asia c) Iran d) Saurashtra Cotton c) Silk d) Animal skin
Answer: b) Central Asia Answer: b) Cotton
280. From where was amethyst imported? a) Central290. Were wool clothes also used? a) No, only cotton b)
Asia b) Maharashtra c) Afghanistan d) Iran Some wool clothes were also used c) Mainly wool d) Only
Answer: b) Maharashtra by rich people
281. From where was turquoise imported? a)Answer: b) Some wool clothes were also used
Afghanistan and Maharashtra b) Central Asia, Iran c)291. What did women wear? a) Long dress b) A short
Saurashtra and Karnataka d) Mesopotamia and Oman skirt c) Full body covering d) Only jewelry
Answer: b) Central Asia, Iran Answer: b) A short skirt
292. What did men wear? a) Short clothes b) Wrapped a
Social Conditions long piece of cloth around themselves c) Tailored
282. What type of society was the Harappan society? garments d) Animal skins
a) Hierarchical b) Egalitarian (all people were treated Answer: b) Wrapped a long piece of cloth around
equal socially, politically and economically) c) Caste-based themselves
d) Class-based only 293. Were both men and women fond of wearing
Answer: b) Egalitarian (all people were treated equal ornaments? a) Only women b) Both men and women
socially, politically and economically) were fond of wearing ornaments c) Only men d) Neither
283. Was the caste system found to be existed in men nor women
Harappan society? a) Yes, well developed b) Does notAnswer: b) Both men and women were fond of
found to be existed c) Partially existed d) Only among wearing ornaments
ruling class 294. What did men wear as ornaments? a) Bracelets
Answer: b) Does not found to be existed and necklaces b) Amulets c) Rings d) Anklets
284. What indicates the prevalence of a kind of class Answer: b) Amulets
system? a) Different occupations b) The varying size of 295. What did women wear as ornaments? a) Amulets
the houses c) Different burial methods d) Different pottery b) Bracelets and necklaces c) Rings only d) Anklets only
types Answer: b) Bracelets and necklaces
Answer: b) The varying size of the houses

13
Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
296. What were ornaments made of for common 308. What crafts were the Harappan people well aware
people? a) Gold and silver b) Beads of shell c) Precious of? a) Only pottery b) Weaving, spinning and bead-making
stones d) Bronze c) Only weaving d) Only metal work
Answer: b) Beads of shell Answer: b) Weaving, spinning and bead-making
297. What were ornaments made of for rich people? a)
Beads of shell b) Gold and silver c) Clay d) Copper
Metallurgy and Bronze Craft
Answer: b) Gold and silver 309. What tools did the Harappans use? a) Only stone
tools b) Many tools made of stone, but were
Amusements and Toys well-acquainted with manufacture and use of Bronze c)
298. What toys were available for children? a) Only Only bronze tools d) Only copper tools
clay animals b) Small clay carts resembling the modern Answer: b) Many tools made of stone, but were
ekkas, figures of animals, whistles made in the form of well-acquainted with manufacture and use of Bronze
birds and rattles of all kinds c) Only wooden toys d) Only 310. How was bronze made? a) By mixing copper with
metal toys iron b) By mixing tin with copper c) By mixing zinc with
Answer: b) Small clay carts resembling the modern copper d) By mixing silver with copper
ekkas, figures of animals, whistles made in the form of Answer: b) By mixing tin with copper
birds and rattles of all kinds 311. What does the discovery of bronze goods
299. What else was popular among children? a) suggest? a) Advanced technology b) That the
Wooden blocks b) Marbles c) Stone toys d) Metal figures metal-workers (bronzesmiths) constituted an important
Answer: b) Marbles group of artisans in Harappan society c) Wealthy society
300. What was specifically available for girls? a) Only d) Trade connections
clay animals b) Dolls c) Only whistles d) Only rattles Answer: b) That the metal-workers (bronzesmiths)
Answer: b) Dolls constituted an important group of artisans in
301. How did older people spend their time? a) Only in Harappan society
religious activities b) In gambling, dancing and hunting c) 312. What did bronzesmiths produce? a) Only images
Only in crafts d) Only in farming b) Not only images and utensils but also various tools and
Answer: b) In gambling, dancing and hunting weapons such as axes, saws, knives and spears c) Only
tools d) Only weapons
Burials Answer: b) Not only images and utensils but also
302. How did Harappans dispose of their dead? a) various tools and weapons such as axes, saws,
Cremated them b) Used to bury their dead in pits c) Left knives and spears
them in open d) Threw them in rivers 313. What is the best specimen of bronze work found
Answer: b) Used to bury their dead in pits in Mohenjodaro? a) Bronze bull b) Bronze statue of
303. What do some graves contain? a) Only bones b) dancing girl c) Bronze seal d) Bronze vessel
Pottery and ornaments c) Only pottery d) Only ornaments Answer: b) Bronze statue of dancing girl
Answer: b) Pottery and ornaments
304. What does the presence of pottery and Terracotta Figurines
ornaments in graves perhaps indicate? a) Wealth of the 314. What are terracotta figurines made of? a) Burnt
deceased b) A belief that these could be used in the metal b) Fire-baked earthen clay (Terracotta) c) Stone d)
afterlife c) Status symbol d) Religious requirements Wood
Answer: b) A belief that these could be used in the Answer: b) Fire-baked earthen clay (Terracotta)
afterlife 315. What were terracotta figurines used as? a) Only
305. In whose burials has jewelry been found? a) Only toys b) Either used as toys or objects of worship c) Only
men b) Both men and women c) Only women d) Onlyobjects of worship d) Only decorative items
children Answer: b) Either used as toys or objects of worship
Answer: b) Both men and women 316. What do terracotta figurines represent? a) Only
306. What were some dead buried with? a) Food items animals b) Birds, dogs, sheep, cattle, monkeys, men and
b) Copper mirrors c) Weapons d) Tools women c) Only humans d) Only religious figures
Answer: b) Copper mirrors Answer: b) Birds, dogs, sheep, cattle, monkeys, men
and women
Art and Crafts 317. How are the terracotta pieces characterized
307. Which age does the Harappan culture belong to? artistically? a) Sophisticated artistic works b)
a) Stone Age b) Bronze Age c) Iron Age d) Copper Age Unsophisticated artistic works c) Highly detailed works d)
Answer: b) Bronze Age Complex artistic works

14
Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
Answer: b) Unsophisticated artistic works 328. What were the Harappans expert in using? a)
Stone tools b) The potter's wheel c) Metal tools d)
Weights and Measures Weaving loom
318. What did the Harappan use weights and Answer: b) The potter's wheel
measures for? a) Only religious purposes b) Trade and 329. What kind of pottery did the Harappans produce?
other transactions c) Only building construction d) Only a) Rough pottery b) Their own characteristic pottery, which
agricultural purposes was glossy and shiny c) Simple pottery d) Crude pottery
Answer: b) Trade and other transactions Answer: b) Their own characteristic pottery, which
319. What have numerous articles been found thatwas glossy and shiny
were used for? a) Decoration b) Weights c) Religious 330. What type of pottery did the Harappans use? a)
purposes d) Tools Black and White Ware pottery b) Red and Black Ware
Answer: b) Weights (RBW) pottery c) Only red pottery d) Only black pottery
320. What do the weights show about Harappan Answer: b) Red and Black Ware (RBW) pottery
weighing system? a) They used 10 or its multiples b) In 331. What were most pottery made on? a) Black clay b)
weighing mostly 16 or its multiples were used c) They Reddish clay c) White clay d) Brown clay
used 8 or its multiples d) They used 12 or its multiples Answer: b) Reddish clay
Answer: b) In weighing mostly 16 or its multiples were 332. What designs were painted on the pottery? a)
used Only geometric designs b) Lines, dots, geometrical
321. What were examples of the multiples of 16 used designs, tree and leaf designs and animal figures c) Only
in weighing? a) 16, 32, 48, 64 b) 16, 64, 160, 320 and animal figures d) Only tree designs
640 c) 16, 48, 80, 112 d) 16, 80, 240, 480 Answer: b) Lines, dots, geometrical designs, tree and
Answer: b) 16, 64, 160, 320 and 640 leaf designs and animal figures
322. What system did the lower denominations of 333. In what color were the designs painted? a) Red b)
weight follow? a) Decimal system b) Binary (1, 2, 4, 8, Black c) White d) Brown
16, 32 etc. upto 12800) c) Hexadecimal system d) Octal Answer: b) Black
system
Answer: b) Binary (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 etc. upto 12800) Harappan Script
323. What system did the higher denominations 334. What did the Harappans invent? a) Pottery making
follow? a) Binary system b) The decimal system c) b) The art of writing c) Bronze working d) Agriculture
Hexadecimal system d) Duodecimal system Answer: b) The art of writing
Answer: b) The decimal system 335. When was the earliest specimen of Harappan
324. What were weights usually made up of? a) Bronze script noticed? a) 1850 b) 1853 c) 1855 d) 1860
b) Chert stone c) Clay d) Wood Answer: b) 1853
Answer: b) Chert stone 336. Has the Harappan script been deciphered? a) Yes,
325. What was the shape of weights? a) Spherical with completely b) It has not been deciphered so far c) Partially
markings b) Generally cubical with no markings c)deciphered d) Recently deciphered
Rectangular with markings d) Cylindrical with no markings Answer: b) It has not been deciphered so far
Answer: b) Generally cubical with no markings 337. Did the Harappans write long inscriptions like
326. Did the Harappans know the art of measurement? Egyptians and Mesopotamians? a) Yes, very long
a) No b) The Harappans also knew the art ofinscriptions b) The Harappans did not write long
measurement c) Only basic measurement d) Only for inscriptions c) Sometimes long inscriptions d) Only
construction religious inscriptions
Answer: b) The Harappans also knew the art of Answer: b) The Harappans did not write long
measurement inscriptions
327. What evidence shows their knowledge of338. Where were most inscriptions recorded? a) On
measurement? a) Written records b) Sticks inscribed with pottery b) On seals c) On walls d) On metal plates
measure marks have been found c) Measuring rods d)Answer: b) On seals
Standard units 339. How many words do most inscriptions contain?
Answer: b) Sticks inscribed with measure marks havea) Many words b) Only a few words c) Single word d)
been found Complete sentences
Answer: b) Only a few words
Pottery

15
Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
340. What type of script is the Harappan script? a) 350. Who perhaps used the seals? a) Religious priests
Alphabetical b) Not alphabetical but mainly pictographic c) b) The merchants and traders c) Government officials d)
Syllabic d) Phonetic Common people
Answer: b) Not alphabetical but mainly pictographic Answer: b) The merchants and traders
341. How were the alternate lines of Harappan script 351. What did merchants and traders use seals for? a)
written? a) Left to right b) Written in alternate lines of Religious purposes b) To stamp their goods c) Decoration
writing, are reverse with reversed letters (Boustrophedon) d) Record keeping
c) Right to left d) Top to bottom Answer: b) To stamp their goods
Answer: b) Written in alternate lines of writing, are 352. What did the sealing also convey? a) Religious
reverse with reversed letters (Boustrophedon) messages b) The identity of the sender c) Trade
342. How many pictographs are found in Harappan information only d) Time and date
script? a) Around 100 to 200 b) Around 250 to 400 c) Answer: b) The identity of the sender
Around 500 to 600 d) Around 700 to 800 353. What is the most famous seal of Harappan
Answer: b) Around 250 to 400 civilisation? a) Unicorn seal b) The Pashupati Seal from
343. What does each letter in pictographs stand for?Mohenjodaro c) Buffalo seal d) Elephant seal
a) Only sounds b) Some sound, idea or object c) Only Answer: b) The Pashupati Seal from Mohenjodaro
ideas d) Only objects 354. What does the Pashupati Seal show? a) Only
Answer: b) Some sound, idea or object animals b) A figure seated cross-legged in the centre with
344. Are these pictographs influenced by Western animals around c) Only the central figure d) Only
Asian scripts? a) Yes, heavily influenced b) These inscription
pictographs are the indigenous work of the Indus region Answer: b) A figure seated cross-legged in the centre
and does not show any influence of the scripts of Western with animals around
Asia c) Partially influenced d) Influenced by Egyptian 355. Which animals are to the right of the figure in
scripts Pashupati Seal? a) Rhino and buffalo b) An elephant and
Answer: b) These pictographs are the indigenous a tiger c) Tiger and rhino d) Buffalo and elephant
work of the Indus region and does not show any Answer: b) An elephant and a tiger
influence of the scripts of Western Asia 356. Which animals are to the left of the figure in
Pashupati Seal? a) Elephant and tiger b) Rhino and a
Seals buffalo c) Buffalo and tiger d) Elephant and rhino
345. What are considered the greatest artisticAnswer: b) Rhino and a buffalo
creations of Harappan culture? a) Pottery b) The seals 357. What animals appear at the feet of the figure in
c) Bronze statues d) Terracotta figurines Pashupati Seal? a) Tigers b) Two deer c) Elephants d)
Answer: b) The seals Buffalo
346. What are seals made of? a) Bronze b) SteatiteAnswer: b) Two deer
stone (soft stone) c) Clay d) Wood
Answer: b) Steatite stone (soft stone) Bead-making
347. What do seals often carry? a) Only inscriptions b) 358. What else were the Harappans experts in? a)
Short inscriptions with pictures of animals c) Only picturesStone carving b) Bead-making c) Weapon making d) Ship
d) Long texts building
Answer: b) Short inscriptions with pictures of animals Answer: b) Bead-making
348. Which animals are pictured on seals? a) Only 359. What materials were used to make beads? a) Only
unicorn b) The one-horned animal (called Unicorn), the stones b) Stones like carnelian, jasper, crystal, quartz and
buffalo, the tiger, the rhinoceros, the goat and the elephantsteatite; metals like copper, bronze and gold and shell,
c) Only domestic animals d) Only wild animals faience and terracotta or burnt clay c) Only metals d) Only
Answer: b) The one-horned animal (called Unicorn),shells
the buffalo, the tiger, the rhinoceros, the goat and the Answer: b) Stones like carnelian, jasper, crystal,
elephant quartz and steatite; metals like copper, bronze and
349. What were seals and sealing used for? a) gold and shell, faience and terracotta or burnt clay
Religious purposes b) To facilitate long distance 360. What type of beads were made using multiple
communication c) Decoration d) Record keeping only materials? a) Only stone beads b) Some beads were
Answer: b) To facilitate long distance communication made of two or more stones, cemented together, some of
stone with gold caps c) Only metal beads d) Only shell
beads

16
Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
Answer: b) Some beads were made of two or more 370. What is evident from the terracotta figurines of
stones, cemented together, some of stone with gold women? a) They were decorative items b) They probably
caps worshipped mother goddess c) They represented ordinary
361. What shapes were the beads? a) Only round b) women d) They were toys
Disc-shaped, cylindrical, spherical, barrel-shaped,Answer: b) They probably worshipped mother
segmented c) Only cylindrical d) Only square goddess
Answer: b) Disc-shaped, cylindrical, spherical, 371. What is shown in one figurine that represents the
barrel-shaped, segmented goddess? a) A crown b) A plant is shown growing out of
362. How were some beads decorated? a) Only painted the embryo of a woman c) Jewelry d) Animals
b) By incising or painting and some had designs etched Answer: b) A plant is shown growing out of the
onto them c) Only incised d) Only with gold embryo of a woman
Answer: b) By incising or painting and some had372. What does this figurine probably represent? a)
designs etched onto them Fertility only b) The goddess of Earth and it was intimately
connected with the origin and growth of plants c) Water
Craft Production Centres goddess d) Sky goddess
363. What was Chanhudaro almost exclusively Answer: b) The goddess of Earth and it was intimately
devoted to? a) Religious activities b) Craft production, connected with the origin and growth of plants
including bead-making, shell-cutting, metal-working, 373. How did the Harappans look upon the Earth? a)
seal-making and weight-making c) Agriculture d) Trade As a living being b) As a fertility goddess and worshipped
only her c) As a source of wealth d) As their home
Answer: b) Craft production, including bead-making, Answer: b) As a fertility goddess and worshipped her
shell-cutting, metal-working, seal-making and 374. How did the Harappans worship the Earth
weight-making goddess similar to other civilizations? a) Like
364. Where have specialised drills been found? a) Only Mesopotamians worshipped river gods b) In the same
at Chanhudaro b) Chanhudaro, Lothal and Dholavira c)manner as the Egyptians worshipped the Nile Goddess
Only at Lothal d) Only at Dholavira Isis c) Like Greeks worshipped Athena d) Like Romans
Answer: b) Chanhudaro, Lothal and Dholavira worshipped Venus
365. Which were specialised centres for making shellAnswer: b) In the same manner as the Egyptians
objects? a) Chanhudaro and Lothal b) Nageshwar and worshipped the Nile Goddess Isis
Balakot c) Dholavira and Surkotada d) Harappa and 375. How is the male deity represented? a) In stone
Mohenjodaro statues b) On a seal c) In terracotta figurines d) In
Answer: b) Nageshwar and Balakot paintings
366. What shell objects were made at these Answer: b) On a seal
specialized centres? a) Only bangles b) Bangles, ladles 376. How many horned heads does the depicted god
and inlay c) Only decorative items d) Only tools have? a) Two horned heads b) Three-horned heads c)
Answer: b) Bangles, ladles and inlay Four horned heads d) One horned head
Religious Practices Answer: b) Three-horned heads
367. How did the Harappans worship Gods? a) In 377. How is the depicted god identified? a) As Vishnu
temples only b) In the form of nature such as trees,b) As Pashupati c) As Brahma d) As Indra
animals and human beings c) Only through rituals d) Answer: b) As Pashupati
Through sacrifices only 378. Is the identification of the god as Pashupati
Answer: b) In the form of nature such as trees, certain? a) Yes, definitely certain b) The identification is
animals and human beings doubtful c) Partially certain d) Recently confirmed
368. Were the Gods placed in temples? a) Yes, in grand Answer: b) The identification is doubtful
temples b) The Gods were not placed in temples c) Only 379. Why is the identification doubtful? a) Because it's
some gods in temples d) Only during festivals very old b) Because horned gods also appear in other
Answer: b) The Gods were not placed in temples ancient civilisations c) Because it's damaged d) Because
369. What have been found in large numbers init's unique
Harappa that indicate goddess worship? a) Stone Answer: b) Because horned gods also appear in other
statues b) Terracotta figurines of women c) Metal ancient civilisations
sculptures d) Painted pottery 380. How is another deity represented on a seal? a)
Answer: b) Terracotta figurines of women Standing alone b) In the midst of the branches of a sacred
tree pipal c) With animals d) In water

17
Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
Answer: b) In the midst of the branches of a sacred The priests cannot said to be the rulers of Harappa c)
tree pipal Possibly d) Partially
381. What type of worship was prevalent besides deity Answer: b) The priests cannot said to be the rulers of
worship? a) Fire worship b) Phallus worship c) Water Harappa
worship d) Sun worship 393. What were the Harappan rulers perhaps more
Answer: b) Phallus worship concerned about? a) Religious activities b) Commerce
382. What became connected with phallus worship in than the conquests c) Military expansion d) Construction
later time? a) Vishnu b) Shiva c) Brahma d) Indra projects
Answer: b) Shiva Answer: b) Commerce than the conquests
383. What symbols have been found in large numbers394. Who were the Harappans possibly ruled by? a)
in Harappa? a) Religious symbols b) Symbols of the Priest kings b) A class of merchants c) Military leaders d)
phallus c) Solar symbols d) Lunar symbols Hereditary kings
Answer: b) Symbols of the phallus Answer: b) A class of merchants
384. What were these symbols possibly meant for? a)395. What kind of people were the Harappans? a)
Decoration b) Worship c) Trade d) Communication War-like people b) Peace loving people c) Aggressive
Answer: b) Worship people d) Militaristic people
385. What else were worshipped in Harappan times?Answer: b) Peace loving people
a) Only gods b) Animals were also worshipped c) Only396. What evidence supports that Harappans were
nature d) Only ancestors peace loving? a) Written records b) Findings from
Answer: b) Animals were also worshipped Harappan sites lack any type of weapon c) Religious texts
386. What is the most important animal that was d) Trade records
worshipped? a) Tiger b) The humped bull c) Elephant d)Answer: b) Findings from Harappan sites lack any
Horse type of weapon
Answer: b) The humped bull
387. What do findings of amulets in large numbers
Palaces and Kings
indicate? a) Wealth of people b) That the Harappans 397. What do archaeological records provide about
believed in ghosts and evil forces c) Trade connections d)centres of power? a) Clear evidence b) No immediate
Artistic skills answers for a centre of power or for depictions of people
Answer: b) That the Harappans believed in ghosts and in power c) Some evidence d) Detailed information
evil forces Answer: b) No immediate answers for a centre of
388. Which Veda contains many charms and spells? a)power or for depictions of people in power
Rig Veda b) The Atharva Veda c) Sama Veda d) Yajur 398. How was a large building found at Mohenjodaro
Veda labeled by archaeologists? a) As a temple b) As a
Answer: b) The Atharva Veda palace c) As a granary d) As an assembly hall
389. What does the Atharva Veda recommend forAnswer: b) As a palace
warding off diseases and evil forces? a) Prayers only b) 399. How was a stone statue labeled and continues to
Amulets are must c) Sacrifices d) Fasting be known? a) As a king b) As the priest-king c) As a god
Answer: b) Amulets are must d) As a merchant
Answer: b) As the priest-king
Political Organisation 400. What was the first opinion some archaeologists
390. Is there a clear idea about the political had about Harappan society? a) It had many rulers b)
organisation of the Harappans? a) Yes, very clear b) Harappan society had no rulers and everybody enjoyed
There is no clear idea c) Partially clear d) Recently equal status c) It had a single ruler d) It had military rulers
discovered Answer: b) Harappan society had no rulers and
Answer: b) There is no clear idea everybody enjoyed equal status
391. What has been found at Harappan sites in 401. What was the second opinion about Harappan
contrast to Egypt and Mesopotamia? a) Many templesrulers? a) There was a single ruler b) There was no single
b) No temple or religious structure c) Few temples d) Only ruler but several rulers c) There were no rulers d) There
small temples were military rulers
Answer: b) No temple or religious structure Answer: b) There was no single ruler but several
392. Can priests be said to be the rulers of Harapparulers
based on archaeological evidence? a) Yes, definitely b) 402. What was the third opinion about Harappan
political organization? a) There were multiple states b)

18
Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
There was a single state c) There was no state d) There causes do not explain the decline of the entire civilisation
were city-states c) They explain most of it d) They explain it partially
Answer: b) There was a single state Answer: b) Some of these causes do not explain the
403. What evidence supports the third opinion of a decline of the entire civilisation
single state? a) Written records b) Similarity in artefacts, 411. Who propounded the Aryan invasion theory? a)
the evidence for planned settlements and the standardised John Marshall b) Mortimer Wheeler c) RD Banerjee d)
ratio of brick size c) Religious uniformity d) Language Cunningham
similarity Answer: b) Mortimer Wheeler
Answer: b) Similarity in artefacts, the evidence for 412. What fact supported the Aryan invasion theory?
planned settlements and the standardised ratio of a) Written records b) Some exotic tools and pottery
brick size indicate the entry of new people c) Weapons found d)
Skeletal remains
Decline of Indus Valley Answer: b) Some exotic tools and pottery indicate the
Civilisation entry of new people
404. By when were most of the mature Harappan sites 413. What appears in the last phase of Mohenjodaro?
abandoned? a) 1900 BC b) 1800 BC c) 1700 BC d) 1600a) Signs of prosperity b) A few signs of violence c) Signs
BC of reconstruction d) Signs of expansion
Answer: b) 1800 BC Answer: b) A few signs of violence
405. What happened simultaneously with the 414. Where do traces of new people appear? a) In living
abandonment of mature sites? a) Population decreased areas b) In a cemetery belonging to late phase of Harappa
everywhere b) There was an expansion of population intoc) In temples d) In granaries
new settlements in Gujarat, Haryana and Western Uttar Answer: b) In a cemetery belonging to late phase of
Pradesh c) People migrated to other countries d) Cities Harappa
became larger 415. Is there evidence of mass-scale confrontation
Answer: b) There was an expansion of population intobetween Harappan and Aryans? a) Yes, extensive
new settlements in Gujarat, Haryana and Westernevidence b) There is no evidence of any mass-scale
Uttar Pradesh confrontation c) Some evidence d) Limited evidence
406. In the few Harappan sites that continued afterAnswer: b) There is no evidence of any mass-scale
1900 BC, what transformation occurred? a) They confrontation
became larger b) Transformation of material culture, 416. Have the causes of decline been firmly
marked by the disappearance of the distinctive artefacts c) established? a) Yes, completely b) The causes of the
They became richer d) They became more organized decline of this civilisation have not been firmly established
Answer: b) Transformation of material culture, marked c) Most causes are established d) Recently established
by the disappearance of the distinctive artefacts Answer: b) The causes of the decline of this
407. Which distinctive artifacts disappeared after 1900civilisation have not been firmly established
BC? a) Pottery only b) Weight, seals, special beads c)417. What do archaeologists now believe about the
Only seals d) Only weights end of the civilization? a) It came to an abrupt end b)
Answer: b) Weight, seals, special beads The civilisation did not come to an abrupt end but
408. What else disappeared along with distinctive gradually declined c) It ended due to war d) It ended due
artifacts? a) Only writing b) Writing, long-distance trade to natural disaster
and craft specialisation c) Only trade d) Only crafts Answer: b) The civilisation did not come to an abrupt
Answer: b) Writing, long-distance trade and craftend but gradually declined
specialisation 418. Whose ecological imbalance theory best explains
409. What are some theories about the causes of the gradual decline belief? a) Mortimer Wheeler b)
decline? a) Only Aryan invasion b) Aryan invasion, Walter Fairservis c) John Marshall d) RD Banerjee
climate change, deforestation, excessive floods, epidemic, Answer: b) Walter Fairservis
shifting or drying up of rivers, ecological imbalance c) OnlyDifferent Opinions about Decline
natural disasters d) Only climate change 419. What opinion did Stuart Piggott and
Answer: b) Aryan invasion, climate change, Gordon-Childe have about the decline? a) Climate
deforestation, excessive floods, epidemic, shifting orchange b) External Aggression (Aryan Invasion) c) Natural
drying up of rivers, ecological imbalance disasters d) Economic collapse
410. Do all these causes explain the decline of theAnswer: b) External Aggression (Aryan Invasion)
entire civilisation? a) Yes, completely b) Some of these

19
Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
420. What opinion did MR Sahni have about the Maharashtra and Eastern India c) Only in Northern India
decline? a) Aryan invasion b) Inundation c) Epidemic d) d) Only in Western India
Earthquake Answer: b) Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra
Answer: b) Inundation and Eastern India
421. What opinion did KAR Kennedy have about the 432. How advanced were these cultures compared to
decline? a) Invasion b) Epidemic c) Flood d) Drought Harappan culture? a) More advanced b) Much less
Answer: b) Epidemic advanced than the Harappan culture c) Equally advanced
422. What opinion did Marshall and Raikes have about d) Slightly less advanced
the decline? a) Aryan invasion b) Tectonic DisturbancesAnswer: b) Much less advanced than the Harappan
(e.g. Dholavira) c) Climate change d) Epidemic culture
Answer: b) Tectonic Disturbances (e.g. Dholavira) 433. What did these cultures lack compared to
423. What opinion did Aurel Stein and AN Ghosh have Harappan culture? a) Only cities b) Neither had any cities
about the decline? a) Tectonic disturbances b) Climaticnor any system of writing c) Only writing system d) Only
Change c) Epidemic d) Invasion trade
Answer: b) Climatic Change Answer: b) Neither had any cities nor any system of
424. What opinion did Walter Fairservis have about the writing
decline? a) Single cause b) Deforestation, scarcity of 434. How did the chalcolithic people live? a) In cities b)
resources, ecological imbalances c) Only climate change Lived in villages c) As nomads d) In fortified settlements
d) Only invasion Answer: b) Lived in villages
Answer: b) Deforestation, scarcity of resources, 435. What activities did the chalcolithic people
ecological imbalances practice? a) Only agriculture b) Agriculture, stock raising,
425. What opinion did Marshal, SR Rao, Maickey have hunting and fishing c) Only hunting d) Only trade
about the decline? a) Drought b) Flood (e.g.Answer: b) Agriculture, stock raising, hunting and
Mohenjodaro) c) Invasion d) Epidemic fishing
Answer: b) Flood (e.g. Mohenjodaro) 436. What indicates the slow percolation of new
426. What opinion did GF Hales have about the people in the Indus basin? a) Written records b) Some
decline? a) Flood b) Drought due to change in the course exotic tools and pottery c) Different burial methods d) New
of river Ghaggar c) Invasion d) Epidemic architectural styles
Answer: b) Drought due to change in the course of Answer: b) Some exotic tools and pottery
river Ghaggar
Contribution of Indus Valley
Post-Urban Phase
427. What is the post-urban phase of Harappan culture
Civilisation
also known as? a) Late Harappan Culture b) The 437. Did the Harappan culture end completely? a) Yes,
Sub-Indus culture c) Post-Harappan Culture d) completely ended b) The Harappan culture did not end;
Neo-Harappan Culture rather its traits were adopted by subsequent cultures c)
Answer: b) The Sub-Indus culture Partially ended d) Ended but revived later
428. What was this culture earlier considered? a) Answer: b) The Harappan culture did not end; rather
Pre-Harappan b) Post-Harappan c) Contemporary its traits were adopted by subsequent cultures
Harappan d) Neo-Harappan 438. Can factors be analyzed today that trace their
Answer: b) Post-Harappan origin to Indus Valley Civilisation? a) Very few factors
429. What is it now more popularly known as? a)b) A number of factors can be analysed which traces their
Sub-Indus culture b) The Late Harappan Culture c) origin to the culture of Indus Valley Civilisation c) No
Post-Urban culture d) Final Harappan Culture factors d) Only religious factors
Answer: b) The Late Harappan Culture Answer: b) A number of factors can be analysed
430. What was the Late Harappan culture primarily? a)which traces their origin to the culture of Indus Valley
Bronze age culture b) Chalcolithic in which tools of stoneCivilisation
and copper are used c) Iron age culture d) Stone age 439. What did the Harappan civilisation develop first?
culture a) Writing system b) The first accurate system of
Answer: b) Chalcolithic in which tools of stone and standardised weights and measures c) Bronze technology
copper are used d) Urban planning
431. Where have sites of these cultures been found? Answer: b) The first accurate system of standardised
a) Only in Pakistan b) Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh,weights and measures

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Indus Valley Civilisation - Complete MCQ Question Bank
440. What did Harappans create from various practice of religious bathing c) Only bathing practices d)
materials? a) Only pottery b) Sculpture, seals, pottery and Only festivals
jewellery from materials, such as terracotta, metal and Answer: b) The worship of Shiva and the Mother
stone c) Only tools d) Only weapons Goddess and the practice of religious bathing
Answer: b) Sculpture, seals, pottery and jewellery 450. What rivers are mentioned in the context of Indus
from materials, such as terracotta, metal and stone Valley Civilization geography? a) Only Indus b) Jhelum
441. What does evidence show about Harappan trade?river, Chenab river c) Only Ganges d) Only Saraswati
a) Only local trade b) Harappans participated in a vastAnswer: b) Jhelum river, Chenab river
maritime trade network extending from Central Asia to
modern-day Iraq, Iran, Kuwait and Syria c) Only land trade
d) Limited trade
Summary
Answer: b) Harappans participated in a vast maritime This comprehensive MCQ question bank covers all
trade network extending from Central Asia toaspects of the Indus Valley Civilisation as detailed in the
modern-day Iraq, Iran, Kuwait and Syria document:
442. What pattern of city planning was practiced by ●​ Origin and Geographical Extent (Questions
Harappans? a) Circular pattern b) Grid Pattern c) Radial 1-15)
pattern d) Random pattern ●​ Major Archaeological Developments
Answer: b) Grid Pattern (Questions 16-25)
443. What unique drainage feature did Harappans ●​ Phases of Civilization (Questions 26-46)
have? a) Open drainage b) The underground covered ●​ Contemporary Civilizations (Questions 47-52)
drainage system c) Surface drainage d) No drainage ●​ Important Cities and Sites (Questions 53-175)
system ●​ Town Planning and Architecture (Questions
Answer: b) The underground covered drainage 106-137, 176-204)
system ●​ Economic Conditions (Questions 205-281)
444. Was this drainage system available in●​ Social Conditions (Questions 282-306)
contemporary civilizations? a) Yes, in all civilizations b) ●​ Art and Crafts (Questions 307-366)
Was not available in the contemporary civilisation c) Only ●​ Religious Practices (Questions 367-389)
in some civilizations d) In most civilizations ●​ Political Organization (Questions 390-403)
Answer: b) Was not available in the contemporary ●​ Decline Theories (Questions 404-426)
civilisation ●​ Post-Urban Phase (Questions 427-436)
445. What agricultural practice did the Harappans ●​ Cultural Contributions (Questions 437-450)
start? a) Single cropping b) Multi-cropping system c) Each question is designed to test specific knowledge
Seasonal cropping d) Crop rotation points from the document, with no repetition or similar
Answer: b) Multi-cropping system questions. The questions progress systematically through
446. What did they have for irrigation? a) Basic the text, covering every detail mentioned in the original
methods b) Efficient methods of irrigation c) No irrigation document.
methods d) Limited methods
Answer: b) Efficient methods of irrigation
447. What did the people of Harappan culture practice
for their dead? a) Cremation b) Used to bury their dead
c) Exposure to elements d) Water burial
Answer: b) Used to bury their dead
448. What worship practices have people adopted
from Harappan culture at present time? a) Only Shiva
worship b) Worshiping Shiva, phallus, pipal, mother
goddess and bull c) Only nature worship d) Only animal
worship
Answer: b) Worshiping Shiva, phallus, pipal, mother
goddess and bull
449. What are examples of continuing traditions from
Harappan culture? a) Only religious practices b) The
worship of Shiva and the Mother Goddess and the

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