Module: | Society, Religion & Burial Practices
Q31: Consider the following statements regarding the standard burial practices and pit variations found at Harappan sites:
1. The standard method of disposing of the dead in the Harappan civilization was to lay them in excavated burial pits.
2. Certain burial pits demonstrated clear physical variations, such as hollowed-out spaces that were meticulously lined with baked bricks.
3. By the mature Harappan phase, the civilization completely abandoned pit burials in favor of cremating the dead and placing the ashes in large, painted terracotta urns.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
2. Certain burial pits demonstrated clear physical variations, such as hollowed-out spaces that were meticulously lined with baked bricks.
3. By the mature Harappan phase, the civilization completely abandoned pit burials in favor of cremating the dead and placing the ashes in large, painted terracotta urns.
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 abandonment of pit burials.One of the primary ways to do this is by analyzing the physical structure of burials.
Structural Breakdown: The vast majority of Harappan burials consisted of simple pits where the bodies were laid out.
However, some pits were distinct.
The hollowed-out spaces in some graves were lined with bricks, suggesting that more effort and resources were expended on certain individuals.
Historical/Related Context: This methodology is universally applied by archaeologists.
For instance, in contemporary Egypt, the massive pyramids were essentially elaborate burial structures that definitively proved extreme social stratification and the concentration of wealth.
Causal Reasoning: The presence of brick-lined burial pits strongly suggests social differentiation.
However, statement 3 is false because pit burials remained the predominant, standard method of dealing with the dead throughout the mature phase; they were never completely replaced by urn cremations.