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: Conceptual Clarification
The inquiry seeks to pinpoint the archaeological location exhibiting the earliest traces of agriculture (barley and millets) within the Indian subcontinent, specifically dating to the 7th millennium BCE (circa 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 crucial Neolithic site in South Asia. Excavations at its earliest strata (Period I) reveal evidence dating to approximately 7000 BCE, documenting the cultivation of wheat and barley, alongside animal domestication.
(B) Kalibangan, (C) Harappa, and (D) Mohenjo-daro: These sites are significant urban centers of the Indus Valley Civilization (also known as the Harappan Civilization). This civilization thrived during the Bronze Age, approximately from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE, a period considerably later than the 7th millennium BCE.
Step 3: Conclusion
Mehrgarh is the accurate selection, representing the pre-Harappan, Neolithic period which holds the earliest documented evidence of agriculture in the region.