Consider the following statements with regard to bead production in Harappan towns :

I. The materials used to make beads included carnelian, quartz and steatite.

II. The beads were cylindrical, barrel-shaped and disc-shaped.

III. Specialized stone drills were used for making holes through the beads.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

All three statements are correct based on archaeological evidence from the Harappan Civilization. Craft production, particularly bead-making, was a significant industry in centers like Chanhudaro and Lothal.

• Statement I: Harappans used a wide variety of materials including semi-precious stones like carnelian (a beautiful red color), jasper, crystal, quartz, and steatite. They also used metals (copper, bronze, gold) and materials like shell, faience, and terracotta.
• Statement II: Beads were crafted in numerous shapes, including disc-shaped, cylindrical, spherical, barrel-shaped, and segmented. Some were decorated with incised or painted designs.
• Statement III: Perforating beads was a specialized task. Specialized stone drills have been discovered at archaeological sites such as Chanhudaro, Lothal, and more recently at Dholavira, confirming the use of specific technology for making holes through the beads.