{"id":2476,"date":"2025-05-02T14:02:14","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T08:32:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lotusarise.com\/qna\/?p=2476"},"modified":"2025-05-02T14:02:16","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T08:32:16","slug":"q-which-one-of-the-following-ancient-towns-is-well-known-for-its-elaborate-system-of-water-harvesting-and-management-by-building-a-series-of-dams-and-channelizing-water-into-connected-reservoirs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lotusarise.com\/qna\/upsc\/q-which-one-of-the-following-ancient-towns-is-well-known-for-its-elaborate-system-of-water-harvesting-and-management-by-building-a-series-of-dams-and-channelizing-water-into-connected-reservoirs","title":{"rendered":"Q. Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelizing water into connected reservoirs?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list mcq\">\n<li>Dholavira<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kalibangan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rakhigarhi<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ropar<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer:<\/strong>&nbsp;<strong>(a) Dholavira<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"notes\">Notes:<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Dholavira:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Dholavira<\/strong>, an ancient\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lotusarise.com\/harappan-sites\/\">Harappan city<\/a>\u00a0located in\u00a0<strong>present-day Gujarat<\/strong>, India, is well-known for its\u00a0<strong>sophisticated water management system<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The people of Dholavira developed an elaborate system of water harvesting and storage, consisting of a\u00a0<strong>series of dams, stepwells, and interconnected reservoirs<\/strong>. This system allowed the city to conserve and channel rainwater effectively, which was crucial in the semi-arid environment of the Rann of Kutch.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was<strong>\u00a0discovered in 1968 by archaeologist Jagat Pati Joshi.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After\u00a0<strong>Mohen-jo-Daro, Ganweriwala and Harappa in Pakistan<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>Rakhigarhi in Haryana of India, Dholavira is the fifth largest metropolis<\/strong>\u00a0of Indus Valley Civilization (IVC).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was named as a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lotusarise.com\/world-heritage-sites-in-india-upsc\/\">UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/a>\u00a0under the name Dholavira: a Harappan City on 27 July 2021.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Location:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The ancient city of Dholavira is an archaeological site at<strong>\u00a0Kachchh District,<\/strong>\u00a0in the state of Gujarat, which dates from the 3<sup>rd<\/sup>\u00a0to mid-2<sup>nd<\/sup>\u00a0millennium BCE.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dholavira\u2019s\u00a0<strong>location is on the Tropic of Cancer.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is located on Khadir bet island in the\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/lotusarise.com\/list-of-wildlife-sanctuaries-of-india-upsc\/\">Kachchh Desert Wildlife Sanctuary<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0in the\u00a0<strong>Great Rann of Kachchh.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unlike other\u00a0<strong>Harappan antecedent towns normally located near to rivers and perennial sources of water,<\/strong>\u00a0the location of Dholavira in the\u00a0<strong>island of Khadir bet.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Distinct Features of the Dholavira Site:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Cascading series of water reservoirs.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Outer\u00a0<strong>fortification.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Two multi-purpose grounds,<\/strong>\u00a0one of which was used for festivities and other as a marketplace.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Nine gates<\/strong>\u00a0with unique designs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Funerary architecture featuring tumulus \u2014<strong>\u00a0hemispherical structures like the Buddhist Stupas.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Multi-layered defensive mechanisms, extensive use of stone in construction and special burial structures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Kalibangan (Rajasthan):<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Location:<\/strong>\u00a0located on the left or southern banks of the\u00a0<strong>Ghaggar (Ghaggar-Hakra River)<\/strong>\u00a0in Hanumangarh District, Rajasthan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Known for\u00a0<strong>early evidence of\u00a0plowed agricultural fields<\/strong>\u00a0but not for an advanced water management system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Major Findings:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is made up of three mounds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Known for its remarkablefire altars and the world\u2019s earliest attested ploughed field.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The earliest form of\u00a0<strong>artificial irrigation<\/strong>\u00a0was practised.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Different types of burials show social inequalities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mesopotamian pottery<\/strong>\u00a0was discovered at the site, showing the trade relations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Burnt bricks were used only for drains at\u00a0<strong>Kalibangan<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rakhigarhi (Haryana):<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Location:<\/strong>\u00a0Hisar district, Haryana (<strong>Sarasvati River<\/strong>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One of the largest Indus Valley Civilization sites, but it is not specifically known for water management systems like Dholavira.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Major Findings:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>DNA\u00a0analysis<\/strong>\u00a0of Skeletal revealed that the Harappan civilization inhabitants had a distinct origin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Land townships were enclosed with mud and burnt brick homes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Efficient drainage system and proper sanitation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The granary consisted of mud bricks and the floor was made of rammed earth plastered with mud.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A seal with an\u00a0<strong>alligator\u00a0<\/strong>symbol was discovered.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ropar (Punjab):<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Location:<\/strong>\u00a0Rupnagar, Punjab (<strong>Sutlej River<\/strong>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Major Findings:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Transition from village to town in period c. 600\u2013200 BCE, and yielded Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) and punch-marked and copper coins.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A seal with an inscription in Brahmi.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Houses made of stone, mud-brick and burnt brick.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Iron workshop and agate beads in NBPW.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Answer:&nbsp;(a) Dholavira 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