The correct option is 1 only
Explanation
The decline of the Harappan Civilisation, marking the transition from the Mature Harappan to the Late Harappan phase, involved significant shifts in settlement patterns and material culture around 1900-1800 BCE.
Statement 1 is Correct: Archaeological evidence indicates that by c. 1800 BCE, most of the Mature Harappan sites in regions such as Cholistan had been abandoned. Concurrently, there was an expansion of population into new settlements in Gujarat, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Late Harappan phase (or Successor Cultures) is characterized by the disappearance of the distinctive features of the Mature Harappan civilization. Artifacts such as weights, seals, special beads, and writing, which were central to the urban administration and trade of the Mature phase, fell out of use. The culture reverted to a more rural lifestyle, and long-distance trade declined.
Key Takeaway: The transition to the Late Harappan phase represents a period of de-urbanization, marked by the loss of standardized administrative tools (seals, weights) and the abandonment of core urban centers.