✗ The Harappan writing system has been fully deciphered by archaeologists.

✓ The Harappan writing system has NOT been deciphered yet. This makes it difficult to understand their administration, religion, and daily life directly from their texts.

Students often assume that ancient civilizations with writing systems have had them deciphered, especially if they are well-known. They might confuse the existence of writing with its understanding.

✗ The Harappan society was characterized by constant warfare and conflict.

✓ The Harappan Civilisation was generally peaceful. Archaeological evidence suggests a lack of significant military structures, weapons of war, or widespread destruction from conflict.

Many ancient civilizations are associated with warfare and conquest. Students might project this common understanding onto the Harappans without considering the specific archaeological evidence.

✗ The Harappans did not engage in trade with other civilizations outside India.

✓ The Harappans engaged in extensive internal and external trade, evidenced by the discovery of Harappan seals in Mesopotamia and Mesopotamian artifacts in Harappan sites, as well as the Lothal dockyard.

Students might think that ancient civilizations were isolated or only traded locally due to limited technology, overlooking the sophistication of Harappan maritime and land trade networks.

✗ The Harappan society was characterized by glaring differences between the rich and the poor.

✓ While there were differences in house sizes, archaeological findings suggest a relatively egalitarian society with uniform quality of construction and access to basic amenities like drainage across different social strata. There is no clear evidence of glaring disparities between rich and poor.

In many societies, including modern ones, there are significant class divisions. Students might assume that ancient urban civilizations automatically had huge gaps between the rich and the poor.

✗ The Harappans did not have an advanced understanding of water management.

✓ The Harappans had a highly sophisticated understanding of water management, as evidenced by their elaborate drainage systems, wells, and large reservoirs (like those at Dholavira) designed to conserve water, especially in regions with fluctuating rainfall.

Students might mistakenly believe that ancient societies lacked advanced engineering skills, or they might confuse the need for water conservation with a lack of water resources.