Which of the following sites provided the earliest radiocarbon date for the Indus Valley Civilization?
- ((a))
Lothal
- ((b))
Kalibangan
- ((c))
Haryana
- ((d))
Harappa
Show Answer
Haryana
The correct answer is Haryana.

Key Points
- Excavations at the site of Bhirrana, located in the Fatehabad district of Haryana, have yielded the earliest radiocarbon dates for the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC).
- The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted C-14 radiocarbon dating on samples from this site, which pushed the origins of the civilization back to the 8th millennium BCE, specifically around 7500 BCE to 7000 BCE.
- Prior to these findings, the Harappan Civilization was generally dated between 3300 BCE and 1300 BCE; however, the Haryana sites like Bhirrana and Rakhigarhi suggest a much older Pre-Harappan or Hakra Ware culture phase.
- The site of Bhirrana is situated along the banks of the ancient Saraswati River (now the seasonal Ghaggar), and its chronological sequence reveals a continuous transition from nomadic pastoralism to sedentary farming.

Additional Information
- Lothal:
- Located in the Ahmedabad district of Gujarat, it served as a major maritime trade hub and featured the world’s first artificial dockyard.
- The site is primarily associated with the Mature Harappan phase (2400−1900 BCE).
- Kalibangan:
- Situated in the Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan, it is famous for providing evidence of the earliest ploughed field and fire altars.
- It showcases both Early Harappan and Mature Harappan cultural strata.
- Harappa:
- Located in the Sahiwal district of Punjab, Pakistan, it was the first site of the civilization to be discovered in 1921 by Daya Ram Sahni.
- While a key urban center, its radiocarbon dates are more recent compared to the early layers found in Haryana.










































































