Question

Two of the below-given features of Harappan civilization are incorrect. Identify: A. It had a planned drainage system.
B. It consisted mostly of rural settlements.
C. The road and streets were laid out in a circular pattern.
D. Most settlements have a bigger higher section and a smaller lower section.
E. Burials were mostly in the form of pits.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. B, C, D only
• B. B, D, E only
• C. C, E only
• D. D, C only

Hint:

Harappan streets followed a grid pattern, and settlements usually had a smaller higher citadel and a larger lower town.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Understanding the Question:
The objective of this question is to identify which two statements among the five provided are historically and archaeologically incorrect regarding the Harappan Civilization (Indus Valley Civilization). We must look for inaccuracies in town planning, settlement distribution, and social structures as revealed by archaeological excavations.
Detailed Explanation:

Analysis of Drainage (Statement A): This statement is correct. The Harappan Civilization is renowned for its advanced drainage system. Every house was connected to street drains, which were covered with bricks or stone slabs, showcasing a high level of sanitary engineering.

Analysis of Settlements (Statement B): While Harappa was an urban civilization, the majority of the population lived in smaller agrarian settlements that supported the large cities. Therefore, identifying it as having many rural settlements is not fundamentally "incorrect" in a historical context compared to the structural errors in C and D.

Analysis of Street Patterns (Statement C): This statement is Incorrect. Harappan roads and streets were famously laid out in a "Grid Pattern," intersecting each other at right angles ($90^{\circ}$). They were not laid out in a circular pattern. This grid layout is a hallmark of their meticulous planning.

Analysis of Settlement Division (Statement D): This statement is Incorrect. Most Harappan settlements (like Mohenjo-daro) were divided into two sections: a "Citadel" and a "Lower Town." Crucially, the Citadel was {smaller but higher} (built on mud-brick platforms), and the Lower Town was {larger but lower}. Statement D reverses this by saying the "higher section was bigger," which is factually wrong.

Analysis of Burials (Statement E): This statement is correct. Archaeological evidence from sites like Kalibangan and Harappa shows that the dead were generally laid in pits, sometimes lined with bricks or accompanied by pottery and ornaments.

Final Answer:
After careful examination, we conclude that statement C is wrong because the layout was a grid, not circular, and statement D is wrong because the higher section (Citadel) was smaller, not bigger. Thus, the incorrect features are C and D. Hence, the correct answer is (D).