The famous female figurine known as \'Dancing Girl\', found at Mohenjo-daro, is made of (UPSC Prelims 2025)

Question

The correct answer is [C] bronze. The \'Dancing Girl\' is one of the most iconic artifacts of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), discovered by archaeologist Ernest Mackay in 1926 at Mohenjo-daro.

Material and Technique (Statement C – Correct): The figurine is made of bronze using the \'lost-wax\' casting (Cire Perdue) technique. This process involves creating a wax model, coating it in clay, melting the wax out, and pouring molten metal into the hollow mold—demonstrating the advanced metallurgical skills of the Harappans.
Artistic Features: The statuette is approximately 10.5 cm high. She is depicted in a provocative, \"tribhanga\" (three-bend) dancing posture, wearing 24 to 25 bangles on her left arm and a few on her right. Her right hand rests on her hip, and her left hand hangs down.
Carnelian (Statement A – Incorrect): Carnelian is a brownish-red semi-precious stone used extensively by Harappans to make beads and jewelry (notably at Lothal and Chanhudaro), but not for this specific figurine.
Clay/Terracotta (Statement B – Incorrect): While many figurines (like the \'Mother Goddess\') were made of terracotta (fired clay), the \'Dancing Girl\' is distinct because of its metallic composition.
Gold (Statement B – Incorrect): Gold jewelry has been found in IVC sites, but no large-scale female figurines made of solid gold from this period have been recovered.

The figurine is currently housed in the National Museum in New Delhi. It is often cited as evidence of the high status of women or the presence of performing arts in Harappan society.

GKToday Admin · Accepted Answer

bronze The correct answer is [C] bronze. The \'Dancing Girl\' is one of the most iconic artifacts of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), discovered by archaeologist Ernest Mackay in 1926 at Mohenjo-daro.

Material and Technique (Statement C – Correct): The figurine is made of bronze using the \'lost-wax\' casting (Cire Perdue) technique. This process involves creating a wax model, coating it in clay, melting the wax out, and pouring molten metal into the hollow mold—demonstrating the advanced metallurgical skills of the Harappans.
Artistic Features: The statuette is approximately 10.5 cm high. She is depicted in a provocative, \"tribhanga\" (three-bend) dancing posture, wearing 24 to 25 bangles on her left arm and a few on her right. Her right hand rests on her hip, and her left hand hangs down.
Carnelian (Statement A – Incorrect): Carnelian is a brownish-red semi-precious stone used extensively by Harappans to make beads and jewelry (notably at Lothal and Chanhudaro), but not for this specific figurine.
Clay/Terracotta (Statement B – Incorrect): While many figurines (like the \'Mother Goddess\') were made of terracotta (fired clay), the \'Dancing Girl\' is distinct because of its metallic composition.
Gold (Statement B – Incorrect): Gold jewelry has been found in IVC sites, but no large-scale female figurines made of solid gold from this period have been recovered.

The figurine is currently housed in the National Museum in New Delhi. It is often cited as evidence of the high status of women or the presence of performing arts in Harappan society.

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