RAS question
The IVC seals were primarily made of:
Correct answer: (C) Steatite.
Indus Valley Civilisation seals were primarily made of steatite, also known as soapstone.
Explanation
Most Indus Valley Civilisation seals were made of steatite, or soapstone, which is why steatite is the precise answer. Britannica describes these seals as small artefacts generally cut from steatite and carved or incised; a few examples were also made from agate, chert, copper, faience and ivory. Their surface design also helps identify the category: the seals typically carried animal motifs, especially the humpless "unicorn" or bull, along with Indus script. They were not casual decorative objects; Britannica notes that they were widely distributed and probably served both as amulets and as practical devices for identifying merchandise.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Gold was rare in the Indus Valley Civilisation and was associated with small objects such as beads, pendants, brooches and ornaments rather than the main body of seals.
- (B) Terracotta was important for popular Harappan art and common items such as figurines, animals, carts and toys, but the seal tradition identified here was generally steatite.
- (D) Bronze was used for tools, implements and some figures, whereas Britannica specifically describes the seals as generally cut from steatite.
Concept
This tests Harappan material culture, especially the link between artefacts, craft materials and administrative or trade practices. It recurs in RAS because Indus seals combine three high-yield themes: craft technology, animal motifs and the still-undeciphered Indus script.