Question 79 from UPSC CSE 2019 - Ancient History

Question

Which one of the following is not a Harappan site?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. Sohgaura

Strategy: Identify unfamiliar names and relate them to known Harappan sites. Chanhudaro, Kot Diji, and Desalpur are established as Harappan/Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) sites in standard references. Sohgaura stands out, often associated with a later historical period, specifically with an Ashokan copper plate, not IVC archaeology, thus marking it as the odd one.

Key Info: Chanhudaro is a prominent Harappan site in present-day Sindh, Pakistan, known for bead-making industry and absence of citadel. Kot Diji, located in Sindh, serves as a pre-Harappan and Harappan site, with evidence of fortification and early cultural continuity into mature Harappan phase. Desalpur, in Gujarat, is a smaller Indus settlement with typical urban features such as fortification walls and baked brick architecture. Sohgaura, by contrast, is situated in present-day Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh. Its claim to fame is a copper plate inscription from the Mauryan period, regarded as one of the oldest known Indian metal inscriptions; it mentions famine relief measures taken under Ashoka. Sohgaura displays no urban archaeological remains from the Indus Valley Civilization. Thus, only Sohgaura is not an IVC site, while the others are key settlements related to the Harappan culture.

Answer

Option A: Chanhudaro

Answer

Option B: Kot Diji

Answer

Option D: Desalpur