Best SSC Exam Practice: Ancient History MCQs with Free Mock Test
Ancient History MCQ for SSC Exams: Here you will find some of the most important multiple choice questions (MCQs) from previous years’ SSC exams, focused on Ancient Indian History. These questions are frequently repeated and crucial for SSC CGL, CHSL, GD, MTS, and other government job exams.
Read the questions carefully to strengthen your preparation.
After that, click the link below to take a mock test.
This will help you understand how well you’re prepared for the real exam.
👉 Take the Mock Test Now – Click Now
Ancient History MCQs PYQ:
- Q1: Bhimbetka, a famous site of Palaeolithic period, is in which state of India?
- a) Maharashtra
- b) Uttar Pradesh
- c) Rajasthan
- d) Madhya Pradesh
- Explanation: Bhimbetka rock shelters, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are located in the Raisen District of Madhya Pradesh, India.
- Q2: In which period of ancient Indian history, pottery was discovered?
- a) Palaeolithic period
- b) Mesolithic period
- c) Neolithic period
- d) Chalcolithic period
- Explanation: Pottery making is a significant innovation associated with the Neolithic period, as people began to settle and store surplus food.
- Q3: A Celt is_________from the Neolithic period.
- a) A type of pottery
- b) A dwelling
- c) A polished stone tool
- d) A religious symbol
- Explanation: A celt is a prehistoric axe or chisel made of stone or metal, particularly common in the Neolithic period for its polished finish.
- Q4: What is the first era of Prehistoric period called?
- a) Mesolithic
- b) Palaeolithic
- c) Neolithic
- d) Chalcolithic
- Explanation: The Palaeolithic period, also known as the Old Stone Age, is the earliest and longest part of the Prehistoric period.
- Q5: Which of the following archaeological sites has evidence of pit-dwellings?
- a) Mehrgarh
- b) Burzahom
- c) Lothal
- d) Kalibangan
- Explanation: Burzahom, a Neolithic site in Kashmir, is well-known for its evidence of pit-dwellings.
- Q6: Burzahom, Neolithic site is located in ………..
- a) Uttar Pradesh
- b) Jammu and Kashmir
- c) Rajasthan
- d) Punjab
- Explanation: Burzahom is an archaeological site located in the Kashmir Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India.
- Q7: At which of the following sites have archaeologists recovered burial of five wild dogs and antler’s horn?
- a) Mehrgarh
- b) Inamgaon
- c) Burzahom
- d) Koldihwa
- Explanation: The unique discovery of burials of five wild dogs along with an antler’s horn was made at the Neolithic site of Burzahom.
- Q8: Mehargarh, the Neolithic settlement, is located in which province of Pakistan?
- a) Sindh
- b) Punjab
- c) Balochistan
- d) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Explanation: Mehrgarh is one of the most important Neolithic sites in archaeology, located on the Kacchi Plain of Balochistan, Pakistan.
- Q9: Where is the archaeological site Inamgaon situated ?
- a) Madhya Pradesh
- b) Gujarat
- c) Rajasthan
- d) Maharashtra
- Explanation: Inamgaon is a Chalcolithic archaeological site located in the state of Maharashtra, India.
- Q10: The archeological site of Koldihwa is located at:
- a) Madhya Pradesh
- b) Uttar Pradesh
- c) Bihar
- d) Rajasthan
- Explanation: Koldihwa is a Neolithic site located in the Belan Valley of Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Q11: The skull of a ‘Homo erectus’ was found in which of the following pre-historic Indian sites?
- a) Mehrgarh
- b) Burzahom
- c) Hathnora
- d) Adamgarh
- Explanation: A fossilized skull fragment of a Homo erectus (known as Narmada Human) was discovered at Hathnora in the Narmada Valley, Madhya Pradesh.
- Q12: Jorwe culture was a Chalcolithic archaeological site located in the present day Indian state of ____.
- a) Gujarat
- b) Rajasthan
- c) Maharashtra
- d) Madhya Pradesh
- Explanation: The Jorwe culture is a prominent Chalcolithic culture of Maharashtra, named after the type-site of Jorwe.
- Q13: ‘Microliths’ were_____ used by early humans.
- a) Large stone tools
- b) Small stone tools
- c) Pottery fragments
- d) Metal objects
- Explanation: Microliths are minute stone tools, typically a few centimeters long, produced during the Mesolithic period by early humans.
- Q14: In which of the following cities of the Indus Valley Civilization has a port been found?
- a) Harappa
- b) Mohenjodaro
- c) Kalibangan
- d) Lothal
- Explanation: Lothal is a prominent site of the Indus Valley Civilization known for its well-planned dockyard, which served as a port.
- Q15: In 1948, Ernest Mackay noted that in the Harappan city, Lothal, drains for the drainage system were made of ………. Bricks.
- a) Mud
- b) Sun-dried
- c) Burnt
- d) Unbaked
- Explanation: The Harappan cities, including Lothal, are famous for their sophisticated drainage systems, often built with carefully laid burnt bricks to ensure durability and prevent water seepage.
- Q16: In which of the following sites of the Indus Valley Civilization was ‘The Great Bath’ found?
- a) Harappa
- b) Mohenjodaro
- c) Lothal
- d) Kalibangan
- Explanation: The Great Bath, a large public bath, is one of the most well-known structures discovered at the site of Mohenjodaro.
- Q17: Which of the following Harappan sites is in Haryana?
- a) Lothal
- b) Kalibangan
- c) Dholavira
- d) Rakhigarhi
- Explanation: Rakhigarhi is one of the largest and most important sites of the Indus Valley Civilization, located in Haryana, India.
- Q18: Who among the following begun his excavations at Dholavira in 1990?
- a) John Marshall
- b) R.D. Banerji
- c) Dayaram Sahni
- d) R.S. Bisht
- Explanation: R.S. Bisht of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) started the extensive excavations at Dholavira in 1990.
- Q19: Match the following :
(A) Mohenjodaro 1. Statue of a priest
(B) Harappa 2. Port
(C) Kalibangan 3. Plough marks
(D) Lothal 4. The Great Bath- a) A-1, B-4, C-3, D-2
- b) A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2
- c) A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3
- d) A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
- Explanation:
- (A) Mohenjodaro is famously associated with 4. The Great Bath. While the “Statue of a Priest” (or Priest-King) was also found at Mohenjodaro, the Great Bath is one of its most iconic and widely recognized structures.
- (B) Harappa is where the 1. Statue of a Priest (specifically, the Red Sandstone Male Torso, often referred to as a “priest” figure) was found, along with other significant artifacts like the Great Granary.
- (C) Kalibangan is renowned for providing the earliest archaeological evidence of 3. Plough marks, indicating agricultural practices.
- (D) Lothal is well-known for its 2. Port or dockyard, suggesting its role as a major trading center.
- Therefore, the correct matching is: Mohenjodaro – The Great Bath (4), Harappa – Statue of a Priest (1), Kalibangan – Plough marks (3), Lothal – Port (2). This corresponds to option b) A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2. Sources
- Q20: The famous ‘dancing-girl’ statue of the Harappan Civilization was made using ____ material
- a) Terracotta
- b) Bronze
- c) Steatite
- d) Stone
- Explanation: The iconic “Dancing Girl” statue, found at Mohenjodaro, is a masterpiece of Harappan art and is made of bronze.
- Q21: The archaeological site Daimabad of the Indus Civilization is situated on the banks of the river?
- a) Indus
- b) Saraswati
- c) Narmada
- d) Pravara
- Explanation: Daimabad, a significant Chalcolithic site, is located on the left bank of the Pravara River, a tributary of the Godavari, in Maharashtra.
- Q22: Which of the following Harappan sites is located in India ?
- a) Mohenjodaro
- b) Harappa
- c) Ganweriwala
- d) Kalibangan
- Explanation: Mohenjodaro, Harappa, and Ganweriwala are located in Pakistan, while Kalibangan is in Rajasthan, India.
- Q23: Which of the following sites was the first to be discovered?
- a) Mohenjodaro
- b) Harappa
- c) Lothal
- d) Dholavira
- Explanation: Harappa was the first site of the Indus Valley Civilization to be discovered and excavated in the 1920s.
- Q24: In which among the following Harappan site terracotta of ‘plough’ was found?
- a) Lothal
- b) Mohenjodaro
- c) Kalibangan
- d) Banawali
- Explanation: Terracotta models of a plough have been found at Banawali, a Harappan site in Haryana.
- Q25: The Harappan site “Manda” was situated on the banks of which river?
- a) Indus
- b) Ravi
- c) Sutlej
- d) Chenab
- Explanation: Manda, the northernmost site of the Harappan Civilization, is located on the banks of the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir.
- Q26: Which is the biggest building at Mohenjodaro?
- a) The Great Bath
- b) The Great Granary
- c) Assembly Hall
- d) Residential Quarters
- Explanation: While the Great Bath is famous, the Great Granary is considered the largest building in terms of area at Mohenjodaro.
- Q27: The following was the harbour in the Harappan site.
- a) Harappa
- b) Mohenjodaro
- c) Lothal
- d) Kalibangan
- Explanation: Lothal is renowned for its artificial dockyard, which served as a major port for the Harappan Civilization.
- Q28: Which of the following was a port city of the Indus Valley Civilization?
- a) Harappa
- b) Mohenjodaro
- c) Kalibangan
- d) Lothal
- Explanation: Lothal’s well-established dockyard indicates its role as a significant port city.
- Q29: Which of the following Harappan sites is thought to have direct sea trade links with Mesopotamia?
- a) Harappa
- b) Mohenjodaro
- c) Kalibangan
- d) Lothal
- Explanation: Archaeological evidence suggests that Lothal, due to its port, played a crucial role in the maritime trade between the Indus Valley Civilization and Mesopotamia.
- Q30: Indus Valley Civilization was a________age civilization.
- a) Iron
- b) Stone
- c) Bronze
- d) Copper
- Explanation: The Indus Valley Civilization is categorized as a Bronze Age civilization due to its extensive use of bronze.
- Q31: In which state is the archaeological site of Surkotada situated?
- a) Rajasthan
- b) Gujarat
- c) Haryana
- d) Punjab
- Explanation: Surkotada is an important Harappan site located in the Kutch district of Gujarat, India.
- Q32: In which province of Pakistan is the site of the ancient civilisation of Mohenjodaro located ?
- a) Punjab
- b) Sindh
- c) Balochistan
- d) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Explanation: Mohenjodaro, one of the largest settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization, is located in the Sindh province of Pakistan.
- Q33: At which of the following sites was the first astronomical observatory of the Harappan Civilization found?
- a) Mohenjodaro
- b) Harappa
- c) Lothal
- d) Dholavira
- Explanation: Dholavira is believed to have had an ancient astronomical observatory, indicated by certain sophisticated structures and alignments.
- Q34: Harappa and ____ two ancient cities of the Indus Civilization, emerged during excavation.
- a) Lothal
- b) Mohenjodaro
- c) Kalibangan
- d) Rakhigarhi
- Explanation: Harappa and Mohenjodaro are the two most prominent and extensively excavated ancient cities of the Indus Valley Civilization.
- Q35: Which of the following sites of Indus Valley Civilization is not on the bank of river Indus ?
- a) Mohenjodaro
- b) Chanhudaro
- c) Amri
- d) Kalibangan
- Explanation: Mohenjodaro, Chanhudaro, and Amri are all located on or very near the Indus River, while Kalibangan is on the Ghaggar-Hakra river in Rajasthan.
- Q36: Which of the following is a mature phase Harappan site located in the state of Rajasthan?
- a) Lothal
- b) Banawali
- c) Dholavira
- d) Kalibangan
- Explanation: Kalibangan, known for its unique findings like ploughed fields, is a mature Harappan site situated in Rajasthan.
- Q37: From which of the following Harappan site, the evidence of ploughed field has been found ?
- a) Lothal
- b) Mohenjodaro
- c) Kalibangan
- d) Harappa
- Explanation: Kalibangan is unique for providing the earliest known evidence of a ploughed field from the Harappan period.
- Q38: Where were the terracotta models of the plough excavated in Harappan Civilisation?
- a) Kalibangan
- b) Lothal
- c) Mohenjodaro
- d) Banawali
- Explanation: Terracotta models of the plough were excavated at Banawali, providing insights into Harappan agricultural practices.
- Q39: India was named ‘Bharat’ after Bharat Jana. In which of the following Vedas is the first mention of this Jana found?
- a) Samaveda
- b) Yajurveda
- c) Atharvaveda
- d) Rigveda
- Explanation: The Rigveda, the oldest of the Vedas, mentions the Bharatas, a prominent Aryan tribe, and the concept of ‘Bharatavarsha’ is linked to them.
- Q40: Iron age is so named because during this time iron mostly replaced …….. in implements and weapons beginning in the Middle East and south eastern Europe.
- a) Stone
- b) Copper
- c) Bronze
- d) Gold
- Explanation: The Iron Age followed the Bronze Age, as iron became the predominant metal for tools and weapons, largely replacing bronze.
- Q41: In which of the following Vedas was the Dasarajna war (war of ten kings) mentioned?
- a) Samaveda
- b) Yajurveda
- c) Atharvaveda
- d) Rigveda
- Explanation: The Dasarajna war, a significant battle between King Sudas of the Bharata tribe and a confederacy of ten kings, is described in the Rigveda.
- Q42: In which of the four Vedas is there a collection of magic mantras and tantra-mantras to avoid and protection from evil spirits and diseases?
- a) Rigveda
- b) Samaveda
- c) Yajurveda
- d) Atharvaveda
- Explanation: The Atharvaveda is known for its collection of hymns, spells, and charms dealing with magic, healing, and protection from evil.
- Q43: The main (chief) social unit of the Aryans was …….
- a) Grama
- b) Jana
- c) Kula (family)
- d) Vis
- Explanation: In early Vedic society, the smallest and most fundamental social unit was the ‘kula’ or family.
- Q44: Which of the following varnas mainly did farming, animal husbandry and trade in the later Vedic period ?
- a) Brahmanas
- b) Kshatriyas
- c) Vaishyas
- d) Shudras
- Explanation: In the Varna system, the Vaishyas were primarily engaged in agriculture, cattle rearing, and trade.
- Q45: The ancient name of which of the following rivers is Vipasha?
- a) Ravi
- b) Chenab
- c) Beas
- d) Sutlej
- Explanation: The ancient Vedic name for the Beas River is Vipasha.
- Q46: The Vedic Aryans lived in an area called Sapta-sindhu, which means the area drained by seven rivers. Jhelum river is one of the seven rivers. What was its ancient name?
- a) Vipasha
- b) Parushni
- c) Vitasta
- d) Shutudri
- Explanation: The ancient Vedic name for the Jhelum River is Vitasta.
- Q47: The Rigveda contains a hymn in the form of a dialogue between the sage Vishwamitra and two rivers worshiped as goddesses. Which rivers are these ?
- a) Ganga and Yamuna
- b) Narmada and Godavari
- c) Beas and Sutlej
- d) Indus and Saraswati
- Explanation: The hymn in Rigveda ( Mandala 3, Sukta 33) features a dialogue between Sage Vishwamitra and the rivers Vipasha (Beas) and Shutudri (Sutlej).
- Q48: Atharvaveda is a collection of …. Division
- a) 15
- b) 18
- c) 20
- d) 25
- Explanation: The Atharvaveda is typically divided into 20 books (kandas).
- Q49: The main collections of Vedic hymns are called__.
- a) Aranyakas
- b) Brahmanas
- c) Upanishads
- d) Samhitas
- Explanation: The Samhitas are the core texts of each Veda, containing the main collection of hymns and mantras.
- Q50: Which of the following varnas was responsible for protecting people and administering justice in ancient India as per rules laid down by the Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras?
- a) Brahmanas
- b) Kshatriyas
- c) Vaishyas
- d) Shudras
- Explanation: The Kshatriyas were the warrior class, primarily responsible for governance, protection of the kingdom, and administering justice.
Ancient History MCQs All Mock Test Set:- Click Here
Ancient History MCQs With Mock Test Set 2 – Click Here