NTA UGC NET/JRF Exam AUGUST-2024 ARCHAEOLOGY

Total Questions: 100

91. Read the paragraph given below and answers the questions.

Copper Hoards and the OCP culture:

Since the beginning of the Nineteenth century CE, copper objects were found in groups of several pieces, at a number of sites in the IndoGangetic Divide (Punjab, Haryana and Northeast Rajasthan) and the Ganga-Yamuna Doab. Because of their discovery in groups they have come to be known as Copper Hoards. Almost in all cases they have been found outside habitation and as accidental discoveries during operation like ploughing, and canal digging. The hoard comprises of a variety of objects like flat axes with splayed sides and convex cutting edges, shouldered axes, bar celts, double-edged axes, anthropomorphic figures, harpoons with barbed and rugged holes, hooked spear-heads, antenna hilted swords and rings.

What is copper hoard?

Correct Answer: C. Flat axes, shouldered axes, bar celts etc. of copper found in groups
Solution:

Copper hoards are collections of prehistoric copper artifacts discovered in groups across North India, especially in the Indo-Gangetic Divide and the Ganga-Yamuna Doab. These hoards typically include flat axes, bar celts, shouldered axes, harpoons, antenna-hilted swords, and rings.
They are usually found outside habitation areas and are often discovered accidentally during agricultural activities or construction work.

92. Copper hoards consists of:

Correct Answer: E. *

93. What are the landforms comprising the Ganga-Yamuna doab?

Correct Answer: A. Active floodplain, meander floodplain, cover floodplain
Solution:

The Ganga-Yamuna Doab consists of three major landforms: active floodplain (recently deposited alluvial sediments), meander floodplain (older, stabilized floodplains), and cover floodplain (extensive deposits of older sediments). These land forms are shaped by the river dynamics of the Ganges and Yamuna, influencing human settlements, agriculture, and archaeological site distributions in the region.

94. What are the type of cutting edges commonly found in the copper hoard flat axes?

Correct Answer: D. Convex
Solution:

The flat axes found in copper hoards commonly have splayed sides and convex cutting edges. This convex design allowed for more efficient cutting and impact distribution, making them useful for chopping and other utilitarian functions. The presence of these axes in large numbers suggests they were significant tools, possibly used for both practical and ceremonial purposes in early metal-using cultures.

95. When were the copper hoards reported in Indian Archaeology?

Correct Answer: D. Beginning of 19th Century
Solution:

Copper hoards were first reported in Indian archaeology at the beginning of the 19th century, when groups of copper objects were discovered in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and the Ganga-Yamuna Doab. Since then, these artifacts have been studied extensively to understand their cultural and technological significance, particularly their association with Ochre-Coloured Pottery (OCP) culture.

96. Read the paragraph given below and answers the questions.

The Gupta age was marked by an unprecedented intellectual ferments and creative upsurge in all branches of arts and letters. Hitherto, temples were largely made of timber or other perishable material. The potentiality of dressed stone was for the first time appreciated during the Gupta period which ushered in an age of temple construction that was characterized by a more reasoned application of structural principles. Under the impact of the bhakticult or worship of the personal god, which had taken deep root and permeated all the sects and sections of society', temples were built in fair number for the installation and worship of popular deities like Vishnu, Shiva, Skanda and Buddha throughout Northern and Central India and Deccan of which a handful have survived. The ritual of the worship required basically a sanctum for the deity and a shelter for the worshipper, which were logically provided in the Gupta shrine.

Which among the following temples of the Gupta period falls under first group with square and flat-roofed sanctum and is the first structural temple of the period?

Correct Answer: B. Sanchi Temple no. 17, Sanchi
Solution:

Sanchi Temple No. 17 represents the earliest structural temple of the Gupta period, featuring a square sanctum with a flat roof. It marks the transition from wooden and brick temples to fully stone-built structures. The temple layout reflects early temple architecture before the evolution of shikharas (towers) in later Hindu temples.

97. Among the following Gupta temple, which temple gives the first indications of the vertical elaboration which culminated in the magnificent sikharas of later temples?

Correct Answer: C. Parvati Temple, Nachna Kuthara
Solution:

The Parvati Temple at Nachna Kuthara provides early indications of vertical elaboration in temple architecture, leading to the later shikhara (towered) style. The temple has a sanctum (garbhagriha) with a small mandapa (hall) and showcases sculptural refinement. This architectural development laid the foundation for the grand shikhara temples of the medieval period.

98. Which Buddhist School of Art developed during the Gupta Period?

Correct Answer: D. Sarnath School of Art
Solution:

The Sarnath School of Art flourished during the Gupta period, known for its graceful, finely sculpted Buddhist images. Unlike the earlier Mathura School, which had robust figures, Sarnath sculptures exhibit delicate modeling, subtle expressions, and flowing robes without folds. The famous Buddha images from Sarnath represent this refined artistic tradition.

99. The famous terracotta images of Ganga and Yamuna has been found from:

Correct Answer: B. Ahichchhatra
Solution:

The famous terracotta images of Ganga and Yamuna were discovered at Ahichchhatra, an important archaeological site in Uttar Pradesh. These images reflect the religious significance of river worship in ancient India, with Ganga and Yamuna often depicted as goddesses standing beside temple doorways, signifying purity and auspiciousness in temple architecture.

100. Who composed the Prayag-Prashasti inscription of Samudragupta written in Champu Kavya Style?

Correct Answer: B. Harisena
Solution:

The Prayag-Prashasti inscription of Samudragupta was composed by Harisena, his court poet and minister. Written in Champu Kavya style (a blend of prose and poetry), the inscription, engraved on the Allahabad Pillar, glorifies Samudragupta's military conquests, administrative policies, and patronage of arts and culture. It serves as an important source for understanding the political history of the Gupta Empire.