Which of the following is/are the most distinctive artefacts of the Harappan Civilisation ? 1. Steatite seal 2. Bricks of a standardised ratio 3. Gold bangles 4. Silver spittoon Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The Harappan or Indus Valley Civilisation is defined by several unique archaeological finds. The steatite seal is explicitly described as the most distinctive artefact of the civilisation, often featuring animal motifs and an undeciphered script [2]. Another hallmark is the use of baked bricks with a standardised ratio (4:2:1 for length, breadth, and height), which was consistent across various urban centres like Harappa and Mohenjo-daro [2]. While Harappans produced gold jewellery and used silver, these items were not unique to their culture in the same 'distinctive' diagnostic sense as the seals and standardised urban planning [1]. Silver spittoons are not associated with Harappan archaeological records; spittoons generally appear in much later historical periods. Therefore, only the steatite seals and standardised bricks serve as the primary distinctive markers of this civilisation.

Sources

1. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 1: Bricks, Beads and Bones > Bricks, Beads and Bones The Harappan Civilisation > p. 1
2. [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Valley_Civilisation