Module: | Society, Religion & Burial Practices
Q32: Consider the following statements regarding the presence of grave goods and gender specific burials in the Harappan civilization:
1. Excavations at the primary cemetery in Harappa revealed graves containing pottery and ornaments, indicating a belief that these items could be used in the afterlife.
2. Personal jewelry and intricately crafted ornaments were found strictly in the burials of women, reflecting a patriarchal system of wealth distribution.
3. In a mid-1980s excavation at Harappa, an ornament consisting of three shell rings, a jasper bead, and hundreds of micro-beads was found near the skull of a male.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
2. Personal jewelry and intricately crafted ornaments were found strictly in the burials of women, reflecting a patriarchal system of wealth distribution.
3. In a mid-1980s excavation at Harappa, an ornament consisting of three shell rings, a jasper bead, and hundreds of micro-beads was found near the skull of a male.
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 gender distribution of grave goods.Structural Breakdown: Harappan graves frequently contained ordinary pottery and various ornaments.
Copper mirrors were also occasionally buried with the dead.
These items were not hoarded treasures, but personal, everyday belongings.
Historical/Related Context: The specific mid-1980s excavation at the Harappan cemetery provided definitive proof that elaborate personal adornment was not restricted by gender.
Causal Reasoning: Statement 2 is entirely incorrect because archaeologists have consistently found jewelry, such as shell rings and semi-precious stone beads, in the burials of both men and women.
The discovery of the elaborate micro-bead ornament specifically near a male skull perfectly illustrates that men also wore and were buried with complex personal jewelry.