Question

The cultivation of barley and millets dating to the 7th millennium BCE is found at-

• A. Mehargarh
• B. Kalibangan
• C. Harappa
• D. Mohanjodaro

Hint:

It is crucial to remember the chronological order of major periods and sites in ancient Indian history. The Neolithic period (with sites like Mehargarh) precedes the Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilization (with sites like Harappa and Mohenjodaro).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Concept Clarification The objective is to identify the archaeological location in the Indian subcontinent exhibiting the earliest evidence of agriculture (barley and millets), dating to the 7th millennium BCE (approximately 7000-6001 BCE). This period aligns with the Neolithic era.
Step 2: Site Evaluation (A) Mehrgarh: Situated on the Kacchi Plain in Balochistan, Pakistan, Mehrgarh is a paramount Neolithic site in South Asia. Its earliest strata (Period I) date to circa 7000 BCE and document the cultivation of wheat and barley, alongside animal domestication.
(B) Kalibangan, (C) Harappa, and (D) Mohenjo-daro: These are prominent urban centers of the Indus Valley Civilization (Harappan Civilization). This civilization thrived during the Bronze Age, approximately from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE, a period significantly later than the 7th millennium BCE.
Step 3: Conclusion Mehrgarh is the correct selection, representing the pre-Harappan Neolithic period where the initial agricultural evidence for the region is documented.