119 RAS Prelims MCQs on prehistoric Rajasthan cover the period before written records, from the Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age. The questions ask which site belongs to which phase, which excavator worked where and which tools mark each culture. Didwana, Bagor, Ahar and Ganeshwar come up repeatedly, so learn each site with its district, river and phase.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 101–110 of 119 questions
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Prehistoric Rajasthan
Q101. Match List-I with List-II regarding archaeological findings and Harappan sites in Rajasthan:
Feature/Finding
Associated Harappan Site
A. Fire altars and ploughed field
i. Kalibangan
B. Substantial use of baked bricks and rich hoards
ii. Baror
C. Late Harappan industrial site with copper focus
iii. Karanpura
D. Seal of a seated deity
iv. Binjor
Explanation
Various Harappan sites in Rajasthan are identified by unique features. Kalibangan is famous for fire altars and its ploughed field. Baror is noted for the substantial use of baked bricks and jewelry hoards. Binjor served as a late Harappan industrial site with a focus on copper, while Karanpura has yielded interesting artifacts like a seal depicting a seated deity.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Prehistoric Rajasthan
Q102. The discovery of a specific type of seal at Kalibangan, which is cylindrical rather than the typical square Harappan seal, shows the cultural influence of which contemporary civilization?
Explanation
The presence of a cylindrical seal at Kalibangan is a clear indicator of cultural and commercial contact with the Mesopotamian civilization. This specific seal type was common in the cities of Sumer and Akkad but rare in the Indus Valley. Its presence suggests that traders or ideas from the Near East reached the Ghaggar-Hakra region, highlighting the globalized trade networks.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Prehistoric Rajasthan
Q103. The following question consists of two statements, Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Select the correct answer using the codes given below: Assertion (A): The street drainage system at Kalibangan is considered less sophisticated than that of Mohenjodaro. Reason (R): Kalibangan lacked baked brick street drains and primarily utilized soakage pits and hollowed wooden logs for wastewater disposal.
Explanation
The drainage system at Kalibangan is often considered less sophisticated than that of Mohenjodaro because it relied on different building materials. Instead of extensive baked brick street drains, Kalibangan primarily used soakage pits and hollowed-out wooden logs. This variation reflects local environmental constraints and the availability of resources rather than a lack of understanding of sanitation and urban engineering practices.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Prehistoric Rajasthan
Q104. By definition, Bronze Age tools in the Harappan context are primarily made from an alloy of copper and:
Explanation
In the context of the Harappan civilization, the Bronze Age is defined by the technological advancement of alloying copper with tin. This process created a harder and more durable metal than pure copper, suitable for manufacturing superior tools, weapons, and artistic figurines. The procurement of tin indicates the existence of extensive long-distance trade networks that supported the metallurgical needs of urban society.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Prehistoric Rajasthan
Q105. Which of the following describes a distinct burial practice discovered in the Kalibangan cemetery?
Explanation
One of the primary burial practices discovered in the Kalibangan cemetery is extended inhumation. In this method, the body of the deceased was placed in a rectangular pit, usually in a north-south orientation with the head toward the north. These graves often contained pottery and other personal items, reflecting the community’s beliefs about the afterlife and providing information about the ancient population.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Prehistoric Rajasthan
Q106. Which unique medico-surgical evidence was identified in a child’s skull found in a Kalibangan burial?
Explanation
Archaeological excavations at Kalibangan yielded extraordinary evidence of ancient medical knowledge. A child’s skull found in a burial showed clear signs of trepanation, which involved surgically making holes in the cranium. The presence of healing bone tissue suggests that the child survived the procedure. This discovery indicates that the Harappan people possessed a sophisticated understanding of surgery to treat neurological or cranial conditions.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Prehistoric Rajasthan
Q107. Consider the following statements regarding the burial practices at Kalibangan: I. Extended burials in rectangular pits were common. II. Circular pits containing large urns (pot burials) were found. III. Some pot burials contained only grave goods with absolutely no skeletal remains. IV. Burials uniformly contained massive caches of gold ornaments. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Burial customs at Kalibangan were diverse and included extended inhumation in rectangular pits as well as pot burials in circular pits. Interestingly, some of these pot burials contained only grave goods and no skeletal remains, possibly representing symbolic funerals. However, the claim that burials uniformly contained gold ornaments is incorrect, as most graves featured common items like pottery and beads.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Prehistoric Rajasthan
Q108. Which of the following burial practices was NOT observed at the Kalibangan cemetery?
Explanation
The cemetery at Kalibangan revealed three main types of burial: rectangular pits with skeletons, circular pits with urns, and rectangular pits containing only pottery. These reflect varied social or ritual practices. However, there is no evidence for the use of Towers of Silence or Dakhma exposures. Such practices are associated with Zoroastrianism, which emerged much later in history than Harappans.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Prehistoric Rajasthan
Q109. The pottery found alongside the dead in Kalibangan burials primarily serves as evidence for:
Explanation
The inclusion of pottery and other personal items in the graves at Kalibangan is a significant indicator of ancient religious beliefs. These grave goods were likely provided for the use of the deceased in the afterlife. This practice suggests that the Harappan society held complex views regarding death and the continuation of existence, necessitating the provision of essential items for the journey.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Prehistoric Rajasthan
Q110. Read the following statements regarding the burial customs at Kalibangan and select the correct option: Statement I: The presence of pot burials without any skeletal remains at Kalibangan suggests symbolic burials for individuals who died elsewhere. Statement II: Kalibangan society practiced rigid uniformity, meaning every individual received exactly the same number of pots in their grave.
Explanation
The presence of pot burials at Kalibangan without skeletal remains suggests a symbolic funerary practice, perhaps for those who died away from home. However, it is incorrect to assume a rigid uniformity in burial practices. The number and type of pots varied between individual graves, likely reflecting differences in social status, wealth, or personal choice, demonstrating a non-homogenous burial ritual.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
101
(a) A-i, B-ii, C-iv, D-iii
102
(d) Mesopotamian
103
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
104
(c) Tin
105
(a) Extended inhumation in rectangular pits
106
(d) Trepanation (making a surgical hole in the skull)
107
(b) I, II and III only
108
(c) Tower of Silence (Dakhma) exposures
109
(d) Belief in an afterlife where grave goods would be utilized
110
(c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect.
Key facts from Prehistoric Rajasthan
Didwana in Nagaur district is a Lower Palaeolithic site, excavated by V. N. Misra among others.
Bagor in Bhilwara district stands on the Kothari river and is a Mesolithic site with early evidence of animal domestication.
Ahar, in the Mewar region, gives its name to the Ahar or Banas Chalcolithic culture; its first excavation was in 1953 by Akshay Kirti Vyas.
Ganeshwar in Sikar district lies on the Kantli river and supplied copper to the Harappan civilization.
Kalibangan in Hanumangarh district is a Harappan site, so it is the odd one out among Lower Palaeolithic sites.
The Chalcolithic period is the one marked by the joint use of stone and copper.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Prehistoric Rajasthan?
This page has 119 practice MCQs on Prehistoric Rajasthan (Rajasthan History, Art and Culture). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Where is the Bagor site and what is it known for?
Bagor is in Bhilwara district, on the banks of the Kothari river. It is a Mesolithic site, known for its microlithic tools and for some of the earliest evidence of animal domestication in the Indian subcontinent. V. N. Misra led its excavation.
Which river is linked to the Ganeshwar site?
The Kantli river, in Sikar district. Ganeshwar yielded a large number of copper objects, and it is described as a copper-supplying centre to the Harappan civilization, which makes it one of the most quoted Chalcolithic sites of the state.
What does the term Chalcolithic mean?
It describes a culture that used both stone and copper tools side by side. In Rajasthan the Chalcolithic Ahar or Banas culture flourished in the Banas river system of the south-east, with Ahar in Udaipur district as its type site.
