RAS question
Which unique feature distinguishes Lothal from other Indus Valley sites?
Correct answer: (B) Dockyard.
Lothal is distinguished from other Indus Valley sites by its dockyard, which marks it as an important Harappan maritime trading centre.
Explanation
Lothal, in Gujarat, is identified with a massive brick structure described by Current Science as a dockyard. This feature is linked with stone anchors found nearby, and these remains suggest that Lothal was an important maritime Harappan trading centre. Among the listed Indus Valley features, Lothal is known for its dockyard, not for horse bones, a ploughed field, or the Great Bath. Its dockyard matters because it shows that the site was connected with water-based trade and port activity within the Indus Valley Civilization, making it a distinctive archaeological marker for Lothal.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Horse bones do not distinguish Lothal here because they are associated with Surkotada, not with Lothal.
- (C) The ploughed field is the distinctive find associated with Kalibangan, so it cannot be used to identify Lothal.
- (D) The Great Bath belongs to Mohenjo-daro, whereas Lothal is identified by its dockyard and maritime trading role.
Concept
This tests the Harappan-site identification part of Ancient Indian History, where RAS frequently asks one-site-one-feature associations. Lothal recurs because its dockyard connects archaeology with trade, urban planning, and maritime activity.