Consider the following information:Archaeological SiteStateDescription1. ChandraketugarhOdishaTradin

Q: What is UPSC Prelims?

UPSC Prelims is a competitive examination conducted in India. This question is from the 2024 UPSC Prelims History paper.

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Question

Consider the following information:Archaeological SiteStateDescription1. ChandraketugarhOdishaTrading Port town2. InamgaonMaharashtraChalcolithic site3. MangaduKeralaMegalithic site4. SalihundamAndhra PradeshRock-cut cave shrinesIn which of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: B — 2 and 3Step-by-step Solution:Row 1 — Chandraketugarh: Odisha: Trading Port town: This is incorrectly matched in its State description. Chandraketugarh is located not in Odisha but in the 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, approximately 35 km northeast of Kolkata, in the Ganges Delta. It was indeed a significant trading port town and terracotta production centre of ancient Bengal, with artefacts dating from the 2nd century BCE to the 4th century CE. The State is wrong (West Bengal, not Odisha). ✗Row 2 — Inamgaon: Maharashtra: Chalcolithic site: This is correctly matched. Inamgaon is a significant Chalcolithic (Copper-Stone Age) archaeological site located in the Bhima River valley in Pune district, Maharashtra. Inhabited approximately from 3300–1300 BCE, it belongs to the Jorwe Culture phase of the Deccan Chalcolithic. Excavations have revealed mud-brick houses, burials within pots, evidence of agriculture and cattle rearing, and sophisticated social organisation. ✓Row 3 — Mangadu: Kerala: Megalithic site: This is correctly matched. Mangadu (also spelled Mangad) in Kerala is a recently discovered prehistoric site with a large concentration of megalithic monuments. The Mangadu megaliths are dated approximately 1000 BCE to 100 BCE. Kerala has a rich megalithic tradition — including umbrella stones (kudakkal), hood stones (toppikkal), and burial urns. ✓Row 4 — Salihundam: Andhra Pradesh: Rock-cut cave shrines: This is incorrectly matched. Salihundam in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh is a Buddhist site famous for its stupas, mahastupas, chaityas (prayer halls), viharas (monasteries), mandapas, and votive stupas dating from the 1st century BCE to 4th century CE. It does NOT have rock-cut cave shrines — those are a feature of sites like Ajanta, Ellora, Karli, Bhaje, etc. ✗Why other options are incorrect:Option A (1 and 2): Incorrect. Row 1 is incorrectly matched (wrong state for Chandraketugarh).Option C (3 and 4): Incorrect. Row 4 is incorrectly matched — Salihundam has stupas/monasteries, not rock-cut cave shrines.Option D (1 and 4): Incorrect. Both Rows 1 and 4 are incorrectly matched.Key Concept: Chalcolithic cultures of India: Jorwe Culture (Maharashtra, c. 1400–700 BCE) — Inamgaon, Chandoli, Nevasa key sites; Kayatha Culture (Madhya Pradesh); Malwa Culture (MP, Navdatoli key site); Ahar/Banas Culture (Rajasthan, Ahar and Gilund). Megalithic cultures (1500–200 BCE): Found across peninsular India — AP, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala; Burial types: cists, cairn circles, pit burials, urn burials; Examples: Brahmagiri, Adichanallur, Porkalam. Important Buddhist sites of AP: Amaravati (famous for stupa and Amaravati marble sculptures); Nagarjunakonda; Salihundam; Ghantasala. Rock-cut architecture: Mainly in Maharashtra (Ajanta, Ellora, Karli, Bhaje, Kanheri) and some in Odisha (Udayagiri, Khandagiri).

Consider the following information:Archaeological SiteStateDescription1. ChandraketugarhOdishaTrading Port town2. InamgaonMaharashtraChalcolithic site3. MangaduKeralaMegalithic site4. SalihundamAndhra PradeshRock-cut cave shrinesIn which of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

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Consider the following information:Archaeological SiteStateDescription1. ChandraketugarhOdishaTrading Port town2. InamgaonMaharashtraChalcolithic site3. MangaduKeralaMegalithic site4. SalihundamAndhra PradeshRock-cut cave shrinesIn which of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

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