In the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R).
Assertion (A): People who used copper hoards in the upper Gangetic basin were nomadic hunters.
Reason (R): Copper hoards were often found with ochre-coloured pots and mud structures.
Select the correct option from the following:
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
A is false, but R is true
Explanation
Assertion (A) is false because the people who used copper hoards in the upper Gangetic basin were not nomadic hunters. Archaeological evidence indicates that these people led a sedentary or settled life and were engaged in agriculture and cattle rearing.
Reason (R) is true because these copper hoards have often been found alongside the remains of the Ochre-Coloured Pottery (OCP) culture and mud houses or structures. The presence of mud structures and pottery proves that they lived in settled communities rather than roaming around as nomads. Therefore, the assertion is incorrect and the reason is correct.
Key Points
Copper hoards have been primarily discovered in the Ganga-Yamuna Doab region, including items like axes, harpoons, and anthropomorphic figures. The OCP culture is generally dated between 2000 BCE and 1500 BCE. The inhabitants of these settlements cultivated crops like rice, barley, and legumes, and kept domesticated animals, indicating a well-developed rural agricultural society.
Additional Facts
Ochre-Coloured Pottery (OCP) gets its name from its distinctive orange-to-red color, which leaves a powdery residue on fingers when touched because its preservation has weakened over time. Remnants of this culture have been found extensively at sites like Hastinapur, Atranjikhera, and Saipai in Uttar Pradesh. It was at Saipai that a direct link between copper tools and OCP pottery was established for the first time.
Important Questions and Answers
Question: With which period is the Ochre-Coloured Pottery (OCP) culture primarily associated?
Answer: The OCP culture is primarily associated with the Chalcolithic Period (Copper-Stone Age) or the post-Bronze Age, and it is considered contemporary to as well as succeeding the Harappan culture.
Question: What is the most distinctive and unique artifact discovered among the copper hoards found in the Ganga Valley?
Answer: The most distinctive artifacts among these hoards are the 'anthropomorphic figures', which are large structures resembling the human form made from thick sheets of copper.