2026 · Q8
Consider the following statements about the archaeological findings in Harappan towns:
- I.There is wide occurrence of spindle-whorls in the houses but absence of spinning wheels.
- II.Weights and measurement scales, complete with graduations have been discovered.
- III.There are houses built in large part with baked bricks, around relatively spacious courtyards, with their own wells, bathing platforms, and large rooms.
Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above statements?
- 1.Statement I suggests that spinning was a laborious activity done at home.
- 2.Statement II suggests the extent of the scientific knowledge that the Harappans possessed.
- 3.Statement III suggests the emergence of a common property system.
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)1 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Show answer and explanationHide answer and explanation
Inference 1 is valid. A spindle-whorl is a hand held weight used with a drop spindle, and the absence of the spinning wheel means yarn had to be twisted by hand, thread by thread, which is slow work, while the recovery of whorls inside dwellings rather than in a dedicated workshop quarter places that work in the home. Inference 2 is valid, because graduated scales and a standardised binary and decimal weight series in chert cubes imply working knowledge of units, ratios and calibration, which is the sense in which scientific knowledge is meant here. Inference 3 is invalid and is the eliminator. Houses with their own wells, their own bathing platforms and enclosed private courtyards point precisely the other way, to individually held property and differentiated household wealth, not to common property. Hence only 1 and 2 follow and (a) is correct. (b) and (d) accept the unsupported third inference, and (c) discards the sound second one.
Moderate · Static · Ancient and Medieval History · Prehistory, Harappan and Vedic India