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Q12 (IAS/2021) History & Culture › Ancient India › Indus civilisation archaeology Official Key

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?

Result
Your answer: —  Âˇ  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 1: Dholavira.

Located in the Khadir Bet island of the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, Dholavira is renowned for its sophisticated hydraulic engineering. Unlike other Harappan cities that relied primarily on perennial rivers, Dholavira’s arid environment necessitated advanced water conservation. Key features include:

  • Reservoirs: A series of massive stone-cut reservoirs were used to store rainwater and runoff.
  • Dams and Channels: Harappans built check dams across the seasonal streams Mansar and Manhar to divert water into these connected reservoirs.
  • Stormwater Management: The city utilized an intricate drainage system to collect every drop of water, showcasing a deep understanding of rainwater harvesting.

In contrast, Kalibangan is noted for fire altars and ploughed fields; Rakhigarhi for being the largest Harappan site; and Ropar for being the first site excavated post-independence. None of these exhibited the unique, elaborate water management system found at Dholavira.

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Q. Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series o…
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 ¡ 2.5/10
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Statement 1
Did the ancient Indus Valley (Harappan) site Dholavira have an elaborate water-harvesting and management system consisting of a series of dams and channelized connected reservoirs?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Dholavira is flanked by two storm water channels; the Mansar in the north, and the Manhar in the south. Bisht, who retired as the Joint Director-General of the ASI, said, "The kind of efficient system of Harappans of Dholavira, developed for conservation, harvesting and storage of water speaks eloquently about their advanced hydraulic engineering, given the state of technology in the third millennium BCE.""
Why this source?
  • Explicitly describes engineered storm-water features at Dholavira (two storm water channels).
  • Quotes an archaeological authority saying Harappans at Dholavira developed an efficient system for conservation, harvesting and storage of water, implying elaborate hydraulic works such as reservoirs and channels.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 1: Bricks, Beads and Bones > 4 THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY > p. 4
Strength: 5/5
“Fig. 1.4 Copper tools Ü Do you think these tools could have been used for harvesting? Fig. 1.5 Reservoir at Dholavira Note the masonry work. Ü Discuss... What is the evidence used by archaeologists to reconstruct dietary practices? canals silted up long ago. It is also likely that water drawn from wells was used for irrigation. Besides, water reservoirs found in Dholavira (Gujarat) may have been used to store water for agriculture. Source 1”
Why relevant

Direct mention that water reservoirs were found at Dholavira and note about masonry work (Fig. 1.5).

How to extend

A student could combine this with local topography and rainfall data to assess whether masonry reservoirs imply planned harvesting/connection.

Exploring Society:India and Beyond. Social Science-Class VI . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation > Questions, activities and projects > p. 104
Strength: 4/5
“What mindset does the system of reservoirs at Dholavira reflect?• 7. In Mohenjo-daro, about 700 wells built with bricks have been counted. They seem to have been regularly maintained and used for several centuries. Discuss the implications.• 8. It is often said that the Harappans had a high civic sense. Discuss the significance of this statement. Do you agree with it? Compare with citizens in a large city of India today.”
Why relevant

Questioning the 'mindset' behind the system of reservoirs at Dholavira implies an organized, intentional water-management feature at the site.

How to extend

Use this prompt to investigate archaeological plans/sections or site maps to see if reservoirs align in series or linkages.

Exploring Society:India and Beyond. Social Science-Class VI . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation > Water Management > p. 94
Strength: 4/5
“The Harappans gave much importance to water management and cleanliness. They often had separate areas for bathing in their homes; these were connected to a larger network of drains (Fig. 6.7), which generally ran below the streets and took the waste water away. Fig. 6.7. Drainage system at Lothal (Gujarat) In Mohenjo-daro, people drew water from hundreds of wells made of bricks. But in other regions, it may have been”
Why relevant

Describes Harappan emphasis on water management (drains, wells), showing a cultural pattern of engineered water systems.

How to extend

Apply this general Harappan pattern to Dholavira: if other Harappan sites engineered water, Dholavira's reservoirs could plausibly be part of an engineered network.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 1: Bricks, Beads and Bones > 2.1 Agricultural technologies > p. 3
Strength: 4/5
“Archaeologists have also tried to identify the tools used for harvesting. Did the Harappans use stone blades set in wooden handles or did they use metal tools? Most Harappan sites are located in semi-arid lands, where irrigation was probably required for agriculture. Traces of canals have been found at the Harappan site of Shortughai in Afghanistan, but not in Punjab or Sind. It is possible that ancient Fig. 1.3 A terracotta bull”
Why relevant

Notes Harappan sites are in semi-arid lands and that traces of canals exist at some Harappan locales (Shortughai), indicating the civilization used channelized irrigation elsewhere.

How to extend

Combine the semi-arid setting of Kutch/Gujarat with known Harappan canal examples to judge plausibility of dams/connected reservoirs at Dholavira.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 1: Bricks, Beads and Bones > 10.3 New techniques and questions > p. 21
Strength: 3/5
“An extensive survey in Kutch has revealed a number of Harappan settlements and explorations in Punjab and Haryana have added to the list of Harappan sites. While Kalibangan, Lothal, Rakhi Garhi and most recently Dholavira have been discovered, explored and excavated as part of these efforts, fresh explorations continue. Over the decades, new issues have assumed importance. Where some archaeologists are often keen to obtain a cultural sequence, others try to understand the logic underlying the location of specific sites. They also grapple with the wealth of artefacts, trying to figure out the functions these may have served. Since the 1980s, there has also been growing international interest in Harappan archaeology.”
Why relevant

States that excavations (including Dholavira) aim to understand the logic underlying site locations, implying that features like reservoirs are interpreted in relation to settlement planning.

How to extend

A student could compare site layout publications from Dholavira with settlement-planning norms to infer whether reservoirs formed a connected system.

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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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