What is R-37 found in Harappa city excavation?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:

R-37 is the archaeological designation given to the main cemetery found at the Harappa site, one of the major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC). Archaeological excavations, particularly those conducted by M.S. Vats, revealed this extensive burial ground located outside the fortified area of Harappa. The cemetery, dating to the Mature Harappan period, provided critical evidence regarding the burial practices and mortuary rituals of the Harappan people. The name R-37 comes from its excavation area notation. Studies of the skeletal remains and grave goods found within the R-37 cemetery have been instrumental in understanding the population's health, social stratification, and religious beliefs concerning the afterlife. Harappa is also known for Cemetery H, which represents a later cultural phase.

The incorrect option is 2 (Statue): While important statues, such as the famous two male torsos, were found at Harappa, R-37 specifically refers to a designated burial area, not an isolated statue find.

The incorrect option is 3 (Great Bath): The Great Bath is the most notable monumental structure associated with the site of Mohenjo-Daro, a different major city of the Indus Valley Civilization, not Harappa, and certainly not the name of a cemetery at Harappa.

The incorrect option is 4 (Bead Making factory): Although bead making was a vital Harappan industry and evidence of such activity was found at various sites (like Chanhudaro, which was a dedicated industrial center), R-37 is the specific identification for the primary burial site at Harappa, not an industrial area.