The correct option is (a).
Explanation
Mehrgarh, located near the Bolan Pass in present-day Pakistan, is one of the earliest and most significant Neolithic sites in the Indian subcontinent (c. 7000 BCE). It provides crucial evidence regarding the transition from hunting-gathering to settled agriculture and animal domestication, as well as specific cultural practices regarding death and the afterlife.
Statement 1 is Correct:
Excavations at Mehrgarh have revealed several burial sites. The inhabitants practiced burial rituals where the deceased were often buried within the settlement area, sometimes even under the floors of houses, indicating a close connection between the living and the dead.
Statement 2 is Incorrect:
The dead were not buried with horses. In the context of Mehrgarh, archaeological evidence shows that the deceased were often buried with goats. Horses are not associated with the early Neolithic phases of Mehrgarh; their presence in the subcontinent is generally attributed to a much later period. Furthermore, the phrase "in all instances" is factually incorrect as burial goods varied.
Statement 3 is Incorrect:
While the people of Mehrgarh believed in life after death, the specific purpose of burying animals was different. Archaeological interpretations suggest that the animals (specifically goats) were buried with the dead to serve as food in the next world, rather than to guard the soul.
Key Takeaway:
Neolithic burials at Mehrgarh reflect a belief in the afterlife, characterized by the inclusion of grave goods such as goats, which were intended as provisions (food) for the deceased, not as guardians.