Module: General Practice
Q24: Consider the following statements regarding the modes of transportation and logistics used in Harappan trade:
1. Terracotta models of ships and boats found at sites like Lothal provide direct physical evidence of the vessels used for maritime and riverine transportation.
2. Depictions of ships with oars and sails are occasionally found carved onto Harappan seals, further corroborating their seafaring capabilities.
3. Despite their maritime prowess, archaeological evidence suggests the Harappans strictly avoided using the inland riverine routes of the Indus and its tributaries for domestic trade.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
2. Depictions of ships with oars and sails are occasionally found carved onto Harappan seals, further corroborating their seafaring capabilities.
3. Despite their maritime prowess, archaeological evidence suggests the Harappans strictly avoided using the inland riverine routes of the Indus and its tributaries for domestic trade.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
✅ Correct Answer: A
🎯 Quick Answer:
Option A is the correct answer because statement 3 is factually incorrect regarding the Harappan use of inland river networks.Structural Breakdown: Evidence for water transport comes from terracotta boat models, seal depictions of ships, and massive port infrastructure like the Lothal dockyard.
For land transport, the widespread discovery of terracotta toy carts suggests that bullock carts were heavily utilized across the terrestrial routes.
Historical/Related Context: The geographical expanse of the civilization, stretching from the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea, made efficient transport essential for the massive movement of grain, raw materials, and finished luxury goods.
Causal Reasoning: Statement 3 is completely false.
The Harappans heavily utilized the Indus River and its massive tributary system.
Riverine routes were actually the primary, most cost-effective method for transporting bulk domestic goods (like agricultural surplus and heavy timber) between major inland cities like Harappa and Mohenjodaro, while maritime routes were reserved for the coastal and international Persian Gulf trade.