Consider the following statements about Harappan cities: 1. Roads were not always absolutely straight and did not always cross one another at right angles. 2. A striking feature is a uniformity in the average size of the bricks for houses and for city walls.
Both 1 and 2
Understanding Harappan City Planning
Harappan civilization, also known as the Indus Valley Civilization, was known for its sophisticated urban planning. The question asks us to evaluate two statements regarding features of Harappan cities, specifically focusing on road layout and brick uniformity.
Statement 1: Roads were not always absolutely straight and did not always cross one another at right angles.
The grid plan is a well-known characteristic of major Harappan cities like Mohenjo-daro and Harappa, where main streets ran north-south and east-west, intersecting at right angles. This organized layout facilitated movement and drainage. However, archaeological evidence from various sites and even within parts of major cities suggests variations. Not all roads were perfectly straight, and some smaller lanes or roads in certain areas might not have adhered strictly to the perfect right-angle intersection pattern. Therefore, stating that roads were "not always" straight and "did not always" cross at right angles is a more nuanced and accurate reflection of the archaeological findings, acknowledging the general grid pattern but also the observed variations.
Statement 2: A striking feature is a uniformity in the average size of the bricks for houses and for city walls.
Uniformity and standardization were hallmarks of the Harappan civilization, particularly evident in their weights, measures, and brick sizes. Excavations at multiple Harappan sites consistently show the use of bricks with standardized dimensions, typically in a ratio of 1:2:4 (thickness:width:length). This uniformity was observed in bricks used for constructing houses, city walls, platforms, and drainage systems across the civilization's vast geographical area. This standardization is considered a striking feature and suggests centralized control or shared architectural knowledge and practices. Therefore, this statement is accurate.
Analyzing the Statements Together
Based on archaeological research:
- Statement 1 acknowledges that while grid planning was common, perfect straightness and right-angle intersections were not universally applied to every road and lane across all Harappan cities and parts within them. This nuanced view aligns with evidence of variations.
- Statement 2 correctly highlights the remarkable uniformity in brick sizes used for construction across the civilization, a key feature of Harappan urban planning.
Both statements reflect aspects of Harappan city planning supported by archaeological findings. The first statement provides a more precise description by using the phrase "not always," acknowledging exceptions to the general grid pattern. The second statement points to a defining characteristic of Harappan construction.
Conclusion
Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct descriptions of features observed in Harappan cities.
| Feature | Description | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| Road Layout | Generally grid pattern (N-S, E-W), but variations existed; not always perfectly straight or at right angles everywhere. | Statement 1 is correct (uses "not always") |
| Brick Size | High degree of uniformity in dimensions (typically 1:2:4 ratio) for various structures like houses and walls. | Statement 2 is correct |
Revision Table: Key Aspects of Harappan Cities
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Urban Planning | Planned cities, often divided into citadel and lower town. |
| Roads | Main roads in grid pattern, smaller lanes show variation. |
| Drainage System | Elaborate covered drainage system. |
| Architecture | Use of baked bricks, multi-storied buildings. |
| Brick Uniformity | Standardized brick sizes across sites. |
Additional Information on Harappan Urban Planning
Harappan urban planning is considered one of the most advanced of its time. Beyond roads and bricks, other notable features included:
- Drainage Systems: Cities had sophisticated covered drainage systems that ran along the streets, connecting to drains from individual houses. This indicates a strong emphasis on sanitation.
- Water Supply: Evidence of wells in many houses and public baths like the Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro shows attention to water management.
- Citadel and Lower Town: Many cities were divided into sections, often a raised citadel to the west (possibly administrative or religious) and a larger lower town to the east where common people lived.
- Granaries: Large structures identified as granaries have been found, suggesting organized storage of grains.
- Standardization: The uniformity seen in bricks, weights, and seals points towards a degree of centralized authority or strong cultural cohesion and shared standards across a wide region.
While major sites like Mohenjo-daro and Harappa represent the peak of this planning, smaller settlements showed adaptations while often retaining core Harappan characteristics like drainage and standardized bricks.
Similar Questions
Consider the following statements about the Jorwe culture of the Deccan:
1. It covers, practically, the whole of modern Maharashtra except the coastal Konkan district.
2. The Pravara-Godavari valleys seem to have been the nuclear zone.
3. The large sites of this culture yield evidence of shifting agriculture.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which one of the following statements about the Harappan Culture is not correct?
Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :
no List-I (Harappan Site) NO List-II (Modem Name) A Dholavira 1 Saurashtra B Rakhigarhi 2 Hisar C Bhirrana 3 Kadir Island D Bhogavo 4 Haryana Who among the following archaeologists was the first to identify similarities between a pre-Harappan culture and the mature Harappan culture?
Consider the following statements regarding the 'Levallois Technique':
1. It refers to making perforated Harappa pottery.
2. It refers to making prehistoric flake tools.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements with reference to Paleolithic tools:
1. Isampur was a well - known center of stone tool manufacture located in Gulbarga district of Karnataka and was situated along a small seasonal stream known as Kamta Halla.
2. A Paleolithic blade is a flake tool, the length of which is more than twice its width.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?In the citadel and lower-town areas of which one of the following Harappan cities, have several large cisterns and reservoirs been found?
Consider the following statements about the Stone Age in India:
1. Different periods are identified on the basis of the type and technology of stone tools.
2. There are no regional variations in the type and technology of tools in different periods.
3. Stone Age cultures of different periods evolved uniformly in a near unilinear fashion all over the subcontinent.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Name the site that gives us valuable information about India's maritime links on the Coromandel coast.
The Harappan site at Kot Diji is close to which one of the following major sites of that civilization?
Important Questions from Prehistoric period
An inscription comprising ten large sized signs of Harappan script was found at:
Which of the followings was NOT a Harappan city?
What is the first age in the prehistoric period called?
Which of the following statements about the Indus Valley Civilization is NOT true?
In which of the following Indus Valley Civilisation sites was the ‘Great Bath’ discovered?
