QUESTION

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Ancient History

Prelims 2021

Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelizing water into connected reservoirs?

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Explanation

  • Dholavira is one of the five largest Harappan sites and is located in the present-day state of Gujarat, India. It was a prominent city of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, flourishing around 4500 years ago.

  • Dholavira is renowned for its sophisticated water management system, which includes reservoirs, dams, channels, and other hydraulic structures.

  • Dholavira was a well-planned city with three distinct divisions: the citadel, middle town, and lower town. The city also had a large stadium or public gathering area, suggesting community events or administrative functions. A remarkable discovery at Dholavira was the earliest known signboard, with inscriptions on a large wooden board, indicating the use of writing for communication or identification.

Harappan sites in India

Harappan sites in India

Kalibangan (Rajasthan)

  • First site to show ploughed field patterns.
  • Fire altars, indicating ritualistic practices.
  • Houses made of mud bricks instead of baked bricks.
  • No large water reservoirs like Dholavira.

Rakhigarhi (Haryana)

  • Largest IVC site in India.
  • Evidence of multi-roomed houses, pottery, and jewelry making.
  • Skeletons found suggest the continuity of Harappan genes.
  • No evidence of large-scale fortifications like Dholavira.

Ropar (Punjab)

  • First Harappan site excavated after India’s independence.
  • Harappan culture overlapped with later Vedic culture.
  • Evidence of burials with pottery and personal belongings.
  • Found near the Sutlej River, showing river-based settlement.

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