UPSC CSE Prelims
Prehistoric Period Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Showing solved Previous Year Questions for Chapter: Prehistoric Period
Topic Breakdown: Scroll →
Consider the following pairs:
| Historical Place | Well-known for |
|---|---|
| Burzahom | Rock-cut shrines |
| Chandra-Ketugarh | Terracotta art |
| Ganeshwar | Copper artefacts |
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — 2 and 3
This question tests knowledge of archaeological sites and their characteristic features. Among the three pairs, only Chandra-Ketugarh (terracotta art) and Ganeshwar (copper artefacts) are correctly matched, while Burzahom is incorrectly associated with rock-cut shrines.
❌ Pair 1 – Incorrect: Burzahom (Kashmir Valley) is a Neolithic site famous for pit-dwellings and bone tools, not rock-cut shrines which belong to later Buddhist/Jain traditions.
✅ Pair 2 – Correct: Chandra-Ketugarh (West Bengal) is renowned for its exquisite terracotta art, including plaques and figurines from the 3rd century BCE to 3rd century CE.
✅ Pair 3 – Correct: Ganeshwar (Rajasthan) is a Chalcolithic site (4000-2000 BCE) famous for copper artefacts including tools, weapons, and ornaments, representing early metallurgical traditions.
📝 Short Notes: Important Archaeological Sites of India
| Site | Location | Period | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burzahom | Kashmir Valley | Neolithic (3000-1500 BCE) | Pit-dwellings, bone tools, ground stone axes |
| Chandra-Ketugarh | West Bengal | 3rd century BCE - 3rd century CE | Terracotta art, plaques, figurines |
| Ganeshwar | Rajasthan | Chalcolithic (4000-2000 BCE) | Copper artefacts, tools, weapons, ornaments |
| Bagor | Rajasthan | Mesolithic | Microliths, animal bones |
| Ahar | Rajasthan | Chalcolithic | Black-and-red ware pottery |
| Koldihwa | Uttar Pradesh | Neolithic | Early evidence of rice cultivation |
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