Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it. Amidst a maze of rocks tucked in the Aravalli mountain ranges of Haryana, a team of archaeologists discovered cave paintings they believe belong to the Upper Palaeolithic age. The cave paintings have been discovered just outside the national capital and a stone’s throw away from a holy grove called Mangar Bani- the region’s only surviving patch of primary forest. While the residents of the villages have been familiar with the paintings for ages, the Haryana government’s museum and archaeology department took note of them just recently. A fact-finding team was sent to the area in the last week of June. The team came across cave paintings comprising images of human figurines, animals, foliage, and geometric drawings. While some have paled over time, others are still very visible. They also discovered rock art and open-air ceremonial sites. Banani Bhattacharyya, deputy director of the department of archaeology and museums informed, “So far, cave paintings in Delhi-NCR have only been found here. The paintings are yet to be dated but at least some of them belong to the Upper Palaeolithic period in all likelihood. We are viewing the paintings in continuation with the Soanian culture which has been found in Shivalik hills, Narmada and Aravallis.” Most of the cave paintings found were in ochre colour, but some were in white. As per experts, cave paintings in white are usually from a later stage (early contemporary era), while Stone Age paintings are more often than not in ochre. “Stone age paintings generally use red and ochre colours. Stones of these colour used to be available locally and inhabitants crushed the stones for preparing the colour for paintings,” added Bhattacharyya. The Upper Paleolithic Age began around 40,000 years ago and lasted till around 10,000 years ago. While yet to be established through archaeological dating, Bhattacharyya says the Mangar cave art is 20,000-40,000 years old. Bhattacharyya claimed that the discovery is extremely significant. “Starting from the Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic then Upper Palaeolithic, we see the evolution here. We have found significant remains from Lower Palaeolithic till Middle and Upper Palaeolithic period too,” she explained. “Though tools from the Palaeolithic Age have been identified earlier in parts of the Aravallis, it is for the first time that cave paintings and rock art of a large magnitude have been found in Haryana,” she added.
The archaeological findings in the Mangar Forest consist of all the following except
Mangar Forest Archaeological Findings Overview
This section provides a detailed explanation of the archaeological discoveries mentioned in the provided passage related to the Mangar Forest area. It aims to help understand which items were part of the findings and which were not, based strictly on the text.
Key Discoveries Detailed in the Passage
The passage highlights a significant archaeological find in the Aravalli mountain ranges, near the Mangar Forest in Haryana. The research team uncovered several important elements from what is believed to be the Upper Palaeolithic age. These discoveries include:
- Cave Paintings: These are prominently featured, described as belonging to the Upper Palaeolithic age and depicting various images such as human figures, animals, plants, and geometric designs.
- Rock Art: Alongside the cave paintings, the team also discovered rock art in the same vicinity.
- Open-air Ceremonial Sites: The discovery also encompasses open-air sites that were likely used for ceremonies or rituals.
Mangar Forest Discoveries: Option Analysis
The question asks to identify which item was NOT among the archaeological findings specifically located within the Mangar Forest during this particular discovery event. Let's evaluate each option based on the information given in the passage:
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Option 1: tools
The passage makes a specific point about tools: "Though tools from the Palaeolithic Age have been identified earlier in parts of the Aravallis, it is for the first time that cave paintings and rock art of a large magnitude have been found in Haryana." This sentence clearly distinguishes the current Mangar Forest discovery (cave paintings, rock art) from earlier findings of tools in a broader geographical context ("parts of the Aravallis"). The text implies that tools were found previously elsewhere, not as part of this recent Mangar Forest discovery.
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Option 2: ceremonial sites
The passage explicitly states, "They also discovered rock art and open-air ceremonial sites." This confirms that ceremonial sites were indeed part of the findings in Mangar Forest.
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Option 3: cave paintings
The very beginning of the passage announces the discovery of "cave paintings they believe belong to the Upper Palaeolithic age." This confirms cave paintings as a major finding in Mangar Forest.
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Option 4: rock art
The passage directly mentions that the team "discovered rock art and open-air ceremonial sites." This confirms rock art was found in Mangar Forest.
Conclusion on Mangar Forest's Archaeological Inclusions
After carefully reviewing the provided text, the archaeological findings explicitly stated to be discovered in the Mangar Forest during this specific expedition are cave paintings, rock art, and open-air ceremonial sites. The passage contrasts these findings with the earlier discovery of tools in other parts of the Aravallis. Therefore, the option that represents an item not found as part of the Mangar Forest archaeological findings described is tools.
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