Question

Harappan seals were mostly made of_______-.
1. Steatite
2. Red sandstone
3. Terracotta
4. Ivory

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : Steatite

The correct answer is Steatite.

• Harappan seals were made mostly of Steatite.

• Thousands of seals have been discovered by archaeologists from the Harappan sites.
• Most of the seals were made of steatite which is a kind of soft stone.
• A few of them were also made of terracotta, gold, agate, chert, ivory, and faience.
• The size of the Harappan seal was 2.54 cm X 2.54 cm. (Average Size). 
• Different use of Seal
  • It is believed that the seals were used for commercial purposes.
  • A few seals were also carried as amulets, perhaps as a kind of identity card.
  • Some seals have mathematical images and must have been used for educational purposes.
• All the seals have pictures of animals with something written in a pictographic script (which is yet to be deciphered).
• Chiefly, the animals represented are tigers, elephants, bulls, bison, goats, and so on.
• Most of the seals have been written on both sides.
• The writings are in the Kharosthi style (right to left).
• The most famous seal is the Pashupati Seal of Harappan civilization from Mohenjo Daro.
• It is a seal with a figure seated cross-legged in the centre with animals around; an elephant and a tiger to the right of the figure and a rhino and a buffalo to its left.