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Q 1. Which one of the following animals was not represented on the seals and terracotta art of the Harappan culture? (IAS 2001)
(a) Cow (b) Elephant (c) Rhinoceros (d) Tigers

Ans. While the Harappan civilization depicted various animals in their art, some notable absentees include:

Cow: Despite being central to later Indian cultures, the cow is not found on Harappan seals or terracotta art.
Camel: Camels were likely not yet introduced to the region during the Harappan era.
Horse: The horse was unknown to the Harappan civilization altogether.
Therefore, all three options - cow, camel, and horse - were not represented in the seals and terracotta art of the Harappan culture.

Q 2. Which one of the following scripts of ancient India was written from right to left? [IAS (Pre) 1997] (a) Brahmi (b) Nandnagari (c) Sharada (d) Kharosthi 

Ans. The correct answer is (d) Kharosthi.

The Kharosthi script, used in ancient Gandhara (modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan), was written from right to left. Here's why the other options are incorrect:

Brahmi: Brahmi was a left-to-right script and a precursor to many modern Indian scripts.
Nandnagari: An offshoot of Brahmi, Nandnagari developed much later and is also written from left to right.
Sharada: Sharada developed around the 8th century CE and is also written from left to right.

Q 3. Who deciphered the Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts? [CDS 2018] 
(a) Piyadassi (b) Colin Mackenzie (c) Alexander Conningham (d) James P

Ans: The answer is (d) James Prinsep.

Piyadassi was another name for Emperor Ashoka, who used the Brahmi script in his famous edicts.

Colin Mackenzie and Alexander Cunningham were both important figures in British colonial archaeology in India, but they did not decipher these scripts.

James Prinsep, an English scholar and archaeologist, played a key role in deciphering both the Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts in the 1830s.

Q. 4 Who is called the ‘Father of Indian Archaeology’? [MPPSC 2017] 
(a) Alexander Cunningham (b) John Marshall (c) Mortimer Wheeler (d) James Prinsep 

Ans. The correct answer is (a) Alexander Cunningham.

While all the individuals mentioned played crucial roles in Indian archaeology, Alexander Cunningham is widely considered the 'Father of Indian Archaeology' due to his significant contributions:

Establishment of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): He founded the ASI, which remains the primary institution for archaeological research and heritage protection in India.
Extensive Excavations and Documentation: Cunningham conducted numerous excavations across the country, unearthing and documenting significant ancient sites.
Focus on Indian History: He emphasized the importance of studying Indian history and archaeology, setting the foundation for future research.

Q 5. India is named as ‘Aryavarta’, due to inhabitants of which of the following? 
(a) Bharat (b) Dravida (c) Aryan (d) Dushyant

Ans. The correct answer is (c) Aryan.

The term 'Aryavarta' (आर्यावर्त) literally means "abode of the Aryans". The Aryans were a group of Indo-European people who are believed to have migrated into the Indian subcontinent around 1500 BCE. They brought their distinctive language, culture, and religious practices, which significantly influenced the development of ancient Indian civilization.

Let's clarify the other options:

Bharat: The name 'Bharat' or 'Bharatvarsha' is also used to refer to India. According to legends, it is named after a legendary king Bharata.
Dravida: This term typically refers to the southern region of India and its associated cultures.
Dushyant: He was a king in Hindu mythology and the father of Bharata.

Q 6. Most of the important salient features of the inscription are 
(a) they are free from interpolation. (b) found at every place. (c) early to study them. (d) All of the above

Ans: The answer is (a) they are free from interpolation.

Here's why the other options are incorrect:

(b) found at every place: Inscriptions are not found everywhere and are concentrated in specific regions or locations related to the culture or civilization that created them.
(c) early to study them: While inscriptions can provide valuable information about the past, studying them often requires specialized knowledge and methods, making it a complex process.
(d) All of the above: Combining the analysis of the above points, only being free from interpolation (meaning not having additional information added or altered) is a true and significant feature of inscriptions.
Therefore, the most important salient feature of inscriptions is that they offer a relatively unaltered and authentic record of the past, providing valuable insights into ancient societies and cultures.

Q 7. Which of the following falls in the category of commercial inscription? 
(a) Junagarh (b) Aihole (c) Gwalior (d) Seal of Indus Valley

Ans: The answer is most likely (d) Seal of Indus Valley.

Here's a breakdown of the options:

Junagarh: This refers to the Rock Inscription of Rudradaman I, which primarily deals with historical and political events.
Aihole: This refers to the Meguti Jain Temple inscriptions, which document religious and cultural practices.
Gwalior: This could refer to various inscriptions found in Gwalior Fort, encompassing historical, religious, and commemorative purposes.
Seal of Indus Valley: These seals often depict animals, geometric patterns, and Indus Valley script symbols. While their exact purpose is still debated, some scholars believe they might have been used for identification, record-keeping, or even early trade.
It's important to note that the exact classification of inscriptions can be nuanced, and some may overlap in categories. However, based on the potential use of the Indus Valley seals in trade-related activities, they are the most likely choice for a commercial inscription.

Q 8. was an early example of an inscription written in Sanskrit. 
a) Uttar Merur (b) Gwalior (c) Aihole (d) Junagarh Rock 

The answer is (d) Junagarh Rock
The early examples of inscriptions written in Sanskrit date back to around the 1st century BCE. Examining the options provided:

Uttar Merur: This location has not yielded any significant evidence of early Sanskrit inscriptions.
Gwalior: While Gwalior has various inscriptions in Sanskrit, the earliest ones date back to a later period, like the 5th-6th centuries CE.
Aihole: Similarly, Aihole has inscriptions in Sanskrit, but they date back to the 6th-7th centuries CE.
Junagarh Rock: The Junagarh Rock Inscription of Rudradaman I, dated to 150 CE, is considered one of the earliest long inscriptions written in a form of Sanskrit.

Q 9. The Lumbini pillar inscription of Ashoka is a 
(a) royal commemorative inscription (b) donative inscription (c) dedicative inscription (d) votive inscription 

Ans. The Lumbini pillar inscription of Ashoka is most likely a (c) dedicative inscription. Here's why:

Royal commemorative inscription: While the inscription is associated with Emperor Ashoka, its primary purpose isn't solely to commemorate his visit or power.
Donative inscription: Donative inscriptions typically record land grants or donations, which is not the focus of the Lumbini inscription.
Dedicative inscription: This option aligns best with the inscription's content. It dedicates a pillar and marks the birthplace of Buddha, signifying a specific purpose beyond personal commemoration or donation.
Votive inscription: Votive inscriptions usually express personal devotion or offerings to deities, which isn't the primary focus of the Lumbini inscription.
Therefore, considering the inscription's purpose of marking a significant location and dedicating a structure, (c) dedicative inscription is the most suitable description.

Q 10. The Brahmi script was first deciphered by letters inscribed on [UPPSC (Mains) 2008] 
(a) Stone tablets (b) Seal (c) Pillars (d) Coins

Ans. The Brahmi script was first deciphered by (d) Coins. Here's why:

While the Brahmi script was used on various materials like stone tablets, pillars, and seals, the key to its initial decipherment came from inscriptions found on coins.
Specifically, James Prinsep, a key figure in deciphering Brahmi in the 1830s, used his knowledge of ancient Greek and Aramaic scripts found on bilingual coins alongside their corresponding Brahmi inscriptions. This comparative analysis played a crucial role in unlocking the secrets of the Brahmi script.

Although other materials like stone tablets and pillars eventually provided further insights and confirmed the decipherment, coins were the initial stepping stone in this process.

Q 11. The first scholar who read Ashokan edicts was [UPPSC 2010] 
(a) Bunler (b) Robert Sebal (c) James Prinsep (d) Cordriguttan

Ans. The first scholar who successfully deciphered and read Ashoka's edicts was (c) James Prinsep.

Here's a breakdown of the other options:

Bunler (Georg Bühler): While Bühler made significant contributions to Indian epigraphy and deciphered other ancient scripts, he wasn't the first to decode Ashoka's edicts.
Robert Sewell: Similar to Bühler, Sewell was an important figure in Indian history and linguistics, but not the first to decipher the Ashokan script.
Cordriguttan: This name likely refers to James George Scott (sometimes spelled Cordrington), who was a British administrator and archaeologist in Burma (now Myanmar). He wasn't directly involved in deciphering Ashoka's edicts.
Therefore, based on historical records, James Prinsep remains the individual credited with the initial breakthrough in deciphering the Brahmi script and reading Ashoka's edicts in the 1830s.

Q 11. Pre-Ashokan Brahmi script was found at [UPPSC 2008] 
(a) Nagarjunakonda (b) Anuradhapura (c) Brahmagiri (d) Maski

Ans.The correct answer is (b) Anuradhapura.

The earliest known Brahmi inscriptions are found in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. These inscriptions are dated to the 4th century BCE, making them pre-Ashokan.

The other options are incorrect because:

Nagarjunakonda: This site has Brahmi inscriptions, but they are dated to the 2nd century BCE, making them post-Ashokan.
Brahmagiri: This site has Brahmi inscriptions, but they are dated to the 3rd century BCE, making them also post-Ashokan.
Maski: This site has Brahmi inscriptions, but they are dated to the 3rd century BCE, making them also post-Ashokan.
The Brahmi script is a writing system that was used in ancient India. It is thought to have developed from the Indus script, which was used in the Indus Valley Civilization (3300-1300 BCE). The Brahmi script was used to write a variety of languages, including Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Tamil.

The Brahmi script was eventually replaced by the Devanagari script, which is the script that is used to write Hindi and other modern Indian languages.