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Q55 (IAS/2024) History & Culture › Ancient India › Ancient epigraphy and archaeology Official Key

Consider the following information : 1. Archaeological Site: Chandraketugarh, State: Odisha, Description: Trading Port town 2. Archaeological Site: Inamgaon, State: Maharashtra, Description: Chalcolithic site 3. Archaeological Site: Mangadu, State: Kerala, Description: Megalithic site 4. Archaeological Site: Salihundam, State: Andhra Pradesh, Description: Rock-cut cave shrines In which of the above rows is the given information correctly matched ?

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Q. Consider the following information : 1. Archaeological Site: Chandraketugarh, State: Odisha, Description: Trading Port town 2. Archaeolo…

At a glance

Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 2.5/10

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This is a 'Map-Based History' question disguised as a matching list. While Inamgaon is a standard NCERT staple, Chandraketugarh and Mangadu are often found in 'Places in News' columns or specialized Art & Culture appendices. The key is not reading more books, but mapping every site mentioned in The Hindu's Friday 'History & Culture' page.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1: Is the archaeological site Chandraketugarh located in Odisha?
Statement 2: Was the archaeological site Chandraketugarh historically a trading port town?
Statement 3: Is the archaeological site Inamgaon located in Maharashtra?
Statement 4: Is the archaeological site Inamgaon a Chalcolithic site?
Statement 5: Is the archaeological site Mangadu located in Kerala?
Statement 6: Is the archaeological site Mangadu a megalithic site?
Statement 7: Is the archaeological site Salihundam located in Andhra Pradesh?
Statement 8: Are the archaeological remains at Salihundam rock-cut cave shrines?

Statement 1

Is the archaeological site Chandraketugarh located in Odisha?

Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy

Indirect textbook clues

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 1: Bricks, Beads and Bones > Harappan Settlements > p. 2

Strength: 4/5

“So far, more than 2000 Harappan archaeological sites have been discovered in the Indian sub-continent. Most of the sites are found located between The Indus and The Saraswati river basins. Nearly two-thirds of these settlements are in the Saraswati basin, suggesting its immense importance for the Harappan Civilisation. Among these, five major cities have been identified. These are Rakhigarhi, Mohenjodaro, Harappa, Dholavira and Ganweriwala. The remaining sites come under different categories such as Regional Centres, agricultural villages, ports and manufacturing centres. There were several archaeological cultures in the region prior to the Mature Harappan. These cultures were associated with distinctive pottery, evidence of agriculture and pastoralism, and some crafts.”

Why relevant

Describes the geographic concentration of Harappan archaeological sites (mostly between the Indus and Saraswati basins), giving a rule about where major ancient sites are commonly located.

How to extend

A student could use this geographic rule plus a map to judge whether Chandraketugarh (if thought to be a Harappan/ancient urban site) lies inside the indicated basin area or outside (e.g., Odisha).

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > SARASWATI-THE MYSTERY OF A LOST RIVER > p. 25

Strength: 3/5

“Archaeological Evidence: Most of the archaeological sites of the then civilization are located on the Saraswati river basin. There are four Harappan and pre-Harappan sites in Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. These sites are located at Rupar (present Rupnagar), Nihang Khan, Bara and Sirsa valleys. Harappan culture flourished in the western part of Punjab around 2500 B.C. It is believed that the Harappans entered through the Indus Valley into Kalibagan valley on the left bank of Ghaggar (erstwhile Saraswati) and spread to Punjab along the Saraswati River. Carbon dating of the material at Kalibagan suggests that Harappan culture flourished around 2500 B.C. in India and existed for 1000 years.”

Why relevant

Gives examples of archaeological sites and their states/regions (Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh) illustrating that classical ancient sites are tied to particular river basins and regions.

How to extend

Use the pattern that sites are often reported with their state/region to check whether Chandraketugarh is typically listed with Odisha or another state on maps or site registers.

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

Notes that archaeological surveys and discoveries are regionally specific (e.g., Kutch, Punjab, Haryana, Kalibangan, Lothal, Rakhigarhi, Dholavira), highlighting how site-distribution patterns are used to classify and locate sites.

How to extend

A student could look for which regional survey or excavation lists include Chandraketugarh to see if it clusters with sites in eastern states like Odisha or with sites in another region.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 5: Evolution of Society in South India > Archaeological > p. 63

Strength: 2/5

“• The megalithic burial sites of the early historic period. • Excavated material from ancient sites, including ports, capital towns, with architectural remains, such as in Arikamedu, Kodumanal, Alangulam, and Uraivur. • Buddhist sites with stupas and chaityas located in Andhra and Karnataka regions (Amaravati, Nagarjunakonda, etc.)”

Why relevant

Provides examples of named archaeological sites tied explicitly to southern states (Arikamedu, Kodumanal, Alangulam), showing the common practice of pairing site names with their state.

How to extend

Apply the same practice: check authoritative lists or textbooks to see which state is routinely paired with the name Chandraketugarh (helpful to confirm or refute an Odisha location).

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 29: Environment Issues and Health Effects > Ileritage Sites > p. 435

Strength: 2/5

“• 19: 20; Schistura Hiranyakeshi: Dialong Village; Maharashtra: Manipur • 19: 2l; Schistura Hiranyakeshi: KhlawKur SyiemKmielng; Maharashtra: Meghalaya • 19: 22; Schistura Hiranyakeshi: Mandasaru; Maharashtra: Odisha • 19: 23; Schistura Hiranyakeshi: Mahendragiri hill Biodiversity Heritage Site; Maharashtra: Odisha • 19: 24; Schistura Hiranyakeshi: Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site; Maharashtra: Tamil Nadu • 19: 25; Schistura Hiranyakeshi: Ameenpur lake; Maharashtra: Telangana • 19: 26; Schistura Hiranyakeshi: ?aliganga river; Maharashtra: Andhra Pradesh • 19: 27; Schistura Hiranyakeshi: Kharagpur hill Biodiversity Heritage Site; Maharashtra: Jharkhand • 29: 3o; Silachari Caves: Debbari or Chabimura; Tfipura: Tripura • 29: 31; Silachari Caves: Betlingshib & its surroundings; Tfipura: Tripura • 29: 3-; Silachari Caves: Ghariyal Rehabilitation Centre; Tfipura: Uttar Pradesh • 29: 33; Silachari Caves: Tonglu BHS under the Darjeeling Forest Division; Tfipura: West Bengal • 29: 34; Silachari Caves: Dhotrey BHS under the Darjeeling Forest Division; Tfipura: West Bengal \il 0 ElMnONlctENT”

Why relevant

Mentions Odisha in a list of heritage/biodiversity sites, demonstrating that Odisha is a recognized location for named heritage sites (so presence of archaeological/heritage sites in Odisha is plausible).

How to extend

Combine this with a map or site catalogue to determine whether Chandraketugarh specifically appears among Odisha's listed heritage/archaeological sites.

Statement analysis