Which of the following is/are important markers for the archaeologists to identify an archaeological site as a 'center of craft production'? 1. Evidence of raw materials such as stone nodules, whole shells, etc. 2. Geographical expanse of the site 3. Evidence of unfinished objects, rejects and waste material 4. Evidence of variety of pottery Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Archaeologists identify centers of craft production by looking for specific physical indicators. According to primary archaeological sources, the most important markers include raw materials such as stone nodules, whole shells, and copper ore [1]. Additionally, the presence of tools, unfinished objects, and rejects or waste material (debitage) is critical [1][2]. Waste is considered one of the best indicators because discarded pieces of shell or stone remain at the site of production [1]. While geographical expanse and a variety of pottery may characterize a site, they are not definitive markers of a specialized 'center of craft production' in the same way that manufacturing debris and raw materials are [1][3]. For instance, at sites like Chanhudaro or Lothal, the concentration of raw materials and waste flakes allows archaeologists to distinguish production centers from purely residential or agricultural settlements [1][3].

Sources

1. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 1: Bricks, Beads and Bones > 5.1 Identifying centres of production > p. 11
2. [2] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10707568/
3. [3] https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/lehs101.pdf