(a) Dholavira
(b) Kalibangan
(c) Rakhigarhi
(d) Ropar
Answer: a
Explanation:
Dholavira
● Dholavira is located on Kadir island in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
● The site is flanked by two streams – The Manhar and Mandsar.
● An important stopping point on busy maritime route.
● The city had an impressive and unique water harvesting and management system.
● An Interesting feature is a large open area (‘called the stadium’), which may have been used for special ceremonial occasions.
● The fortified acropolis , with gateways in the centre of its four walls.
● In one of the side rooms of the Northern gateway of Dholavira lay what seems to be a fallen Signboard with an inscription made with white gypsum paste inlaid into a wooden board.
Hence, option a is correct.
Kalibangan
● Kalinbangan (black bangles) gets its name from clusters of black bangles lying all over the surface of its mounds. The Bangle making was an important craft.
● This site lies on the banks of the dry bed of the Ghaggar river, in the Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan.
● It is noted for a series of mud-bricks platforms with a row of seven clay-plastered pits. The Pits have been interpreted as Fire altars, i.e., sacrificial pits in which offerings were made into the Fire.
● Some circular pits with grave goods (pottery, bronze mirrors etc) but no Human remains.
● Corbelled drains made of bricks have been found on the citadel mound.
● Street drains of the Mohenjodaro type were absent in the lower town at Kalibangan.The sewage from houses was discharged into troughs or large jars embedded in the ground outside.
Rakhigarhi
Rakhigarhi (Hissar district, Haryana) the citadel mound, surrounded by a mud-brick fortification wall, had platforms, a brick well, fire altars, some streets and drains of various sizes.
There are several mature Harappan sites where there is no early Harappan level, e.g., Lothal, Desalpur, Chanhudaro, Mitathal, Alamgirpur, and Ropar
Read: Previous Year UPSC History Questions (PYQs) With Explanation 2021