๐ Chapter 01 ยท PYQs ยท Visual Arts
Rock Art, Seals & Prehistoric Art โ Previous Year Questions
UPSC, APPSC, and TGPSC previous year questions on prehistoric art, Harappan seals, terracotta, and megaliths with detailed answers.
With reference to the Indus Valley Civilisation, consider the following statements: (1) It was predominantly a secular civilisation and the religious element, though present, did not dominate the scene. (2) During this period, cotton was used for manufacturing textiles in India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A) 1 only
- B) 2 only
- C) Both 1 and 2
- D) Neither 1 nor 2
โ
Answer: C โ Both statements are correct. The IVC shows evidence of secular administration alongside religious practices. Cotton textiles were produced in the IVC โ the earliest known use of cotton in the world.
Which one of the following is not a Harappan site?
- A) Chanhudaro
- B) Kot Diji
- C) Sohgaura
- D) Desalpur
โ
Answer: C โ Sohgaura is not a Harappan site. It is known for a Mauryan copper plate inscription. Chanhudaro, Kot Diji, and Desalpur are all Harappan sites.
Bhimbetka rock shelters are located in which state?
- A) Rajasthan
- B) Madhya Pradesh
- C) Chhattisgarh
- D) Uttarakhand
โ
Answer: B โ Bhimbetka rock shelters are located in Madhya Pradesh, about 45 km south of Bhopal in the Vindhya ranges.
Consider the following pairs: (1) Harappan site โ Kutch (2) Harappan site โ Bolan Pass (3) Harappan site โ Godavari plains. Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- A) 1 only
- B) 1 and 2
- C) 2 and 3
- D) 1, 2 and 3
โ
Answer: A โ Dholavira in Kutch (Gujarat) is a major Harappan site. Bolan Pass is in Balochistan (Pakistan) โ not a Harappan site itself. Harappan sites do not extend to the Godavari plains.
The Edakkal Caves with prehistoric rock engravings are located in which district of Kerala?
- A) Idukki
- B) Palakkad
- C) Wayanad
- D) Thrissur
โ
Answer: C โ Edakkal Caves are located in Wayanad district, Kerala. They contain Neolithic petroglyphs (rock engravings).
The Pashupati seal found at Mohenjo-daro depicts a figure surrounded by which animals?
- A) Lion, tiger, elephant, buffalo
- B) Elephant, tiger, rhinoceros, buffalo
- C) Elephant, lion, deer, buffalo
- D) Tiger, rhinoceros, deer, elephant
โ
Answer: B โ The Pashupati Seal shows a three-faced figure surrounded by elephant, tiger, rhinoceros, and buffalo, with two deer below the throne.
Which of the following is the most common type of megalithic burial in South India?
- A) Dolmen
- B) Menhir
- C) Cist burial
- D) Urn burial
โ
Answer: C โ Cist burial (rectangular stone slab chamber) is the most common type of megalithic burial in South India.
With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which one of the following was made earliest?
- A) Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar
- B) Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli
- C) Rock paintings at Bhimbetka
- D) Varaha image at Udayagiri
โ
Answer: C โ Rock paintings at Bhimbetka date back to the Upper Palaeolithic period (~30,000 BCE), making them the earliest among the options listed.
The Adichanallur site, known for its megalithic urn burials, is located in which state?
- A) Karnataka
- B) Andhra Pradesh
- C) Tamil Nadu
- D) Kerala
โ
Answer: C โ Adichanallur is located in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu. It contains over 3,000 urn burials from the megalithic period.
The Harappan seals were primarily made of which material?
- A) Terracotta
- B) Copper
- C) Steatite
- D) Faience
โ
Answer: C โ Most Harappan seals were made of steatite (soapstone), which was carved and then fired to harden it.