Q: Who led the first excavation of the Harappa site in 1921?
Answer: Daya Ram Sahni
Explanation: Daya Ram Sahni led the first excavation of Harappa in 1921. His work confirmed the existence of an ancient civilization in the Indus valley. This discovery shifted the timeline of Indian history back by thousands of years.
Q: Who is credited with the discovery of Mohenjo-Daro in 1922?
Answer: R.D. Banerjee
Explanation: Rakhaldas (R.D.) Banerjee discovered the site of Mohenjo-Daro in 1922. He initially went there to investigate a Buddhist stupa but found the ancient city beneath. This confirmed the vast extent of the civilization.
Q: Harappa is located on the banks of which river?
Answer: Ravi
Explanation: Harappa is situated on the banks of the Ravi River. Although the civilization is named after the Indus, Harappa itself is on a tributary. The river provided water and a transport route for the city.
Q: Mohenjo-Daro is located on the banks of which river?
Answer: Indus
Explanation: Mohenjo-Daro is located on the banks of the Indus River (Sindhu). It is in the Larkana district of Sindh, Pakistan. The river was the lifeline for the city's agriculture and trade.
Q: What is the literal meaning of the word 'Mohenjo-Daro'?
Answer: Mound of the Dead
Explanation: The name Mohenjo-Daro literally translates to 'Mound of the Dead' in the Sindhi language. The original name of the city is unknown. It was named this by locals due to the ancient ruins found there.
Q: Lothal is located near which river?
Answer: Bhogava
Explanation: Lothal is situated near the Bhogava River, a tributary of the Sabarmati in Gujarat. Its location near the Gulf of Khambhat was ideal for a port city. This allowed trade access to the Arabian Sea.
Q: Kalibangan is located on the banks of which ancient river?
Answer: Ghaggar
Explanation: Kalibangan is located on the banks of the dried-up bed of the Ghaggar River in Rajasthan. Many scholars identify the Ghaggar with the ancient Saraswati river. The site has yielded both Pre-Harappan and Harappan evidence.
Q: The Indus Valley Civilization was contemporary to which other civilization?
Answer: Mesopotamian Civilization
Explanation: The Indus Valley Civilization was contemporary with the Mesopotamian (Sumerian) and Egyptian civilizations. Trade records from Mesopotamia mention the Indus region. They flourished during the same Bronze Age period.
Q: The literal meaning of 'Kalibangan' is:
Answer: Black Bangles
Explanation: The name Kalibangan means 'Black Bangles' in Hindi/Punjabi. The site yielded huge quantities of terracotta bangles during excavation. It was likely a center for bangle manufacturing.
Q: The Great Bath was found at which site?
Answer: Mohenjo-Daro
Explanation: The famous Great Bath was discovered at Mohenjo-Daro. It is one of the most remarkable structures of the ancient world. It demonstrates the advanced engineering skills of the Indus people.