Module: General Practice
Q29: Consider the following statements regarding the ubiquity of Harappan writing and the longest known inscriptions:
1. While the vast majority of Harappan inscriptions are very short, the longest known continuous inscription contains exactly 26 distinct signs.
2. Harappan writing was an exclusive feature found strictly on steatite stone seals and was never utilized on everyday utilitarian objects.
3. Archaeologists have discovered writing on copper tools, the rims of jars, copper and terracotta tablets, jewelry, and even a large wooden signboard at Dholavira.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
2. Harappan writing was an exclusive feature found strictly on steatite stone seals and was never utilized on everyday utilitarian objects.
3. Archaeologists have discovered writing on copper tools, the rims of jars, copper and terracotta tablets, jewelry, and even a large wooden signboard at Dholavira.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
✅ Correct Answer: B
🎯 Quick Answer:
Option B is the correct answer because statement 2 is factually false regarding the exclusivity of the writing surfaces.Structural Breakdown: The inscriptions are notoriously brief.
The single longest inscription found to date contains only 26 signs.
However, the medium of writing was incredibly diverse.
At the city of Dholavira, archaeologists made a unique discovery: large, white gypsum letters that were once inlaid into a massive wooden signboard.
Historical/Related Context: The discovery of writing on such a diverse array of materials—including everyday tools and jar rims—presents a stark contrast to civilizations like Egypt, where formal hieroglyphics were largely reserved for tombs and state monuments.
Causal Reasoning: Statement 2 is entirely incorrect.
The widespread presence of script on common utilitarian items (copper tools, terracotta tablets, bone rods, and jar rims) strongly suggests that basic literacy may have been more widespread among the general artisan and merchant population than previously assumed, rather than being a closely guarded secret of an elite priestly class.