Consider the following statements regarding the Harappan trade networks and raw material procurement: 1. Lapis lazuli was imported primarily from Shortugai located in Badakhshan region of modern Afghanistan. 2. Tin was sourced locally from the alluvial plains of Sindh and Punjab without external trade dependencies. 3. Steatite used for manufacturing intricate seals was procured from sources located in northern Rajasthan and Gujarat. Which of the statements given above are correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Harappan merchants procured lapis lazuli from Shortugai in Afghanistan, which served as a trading colony, and acquired steatite from localized deposits in Rajasthan and Gujarat. The second statement is incorrect because tin was not available locally in sufficient quantities and had to be imported from regions like Afghanistan, Iran, or Central Asia to produce bronze alloys. Long-distance exchange networks were essential for sustaining urban craft production across Indus cities.