The correct option is (a).
Explanation
Inamgaon is a significant archaeological site located on the river Ghod in Maharashtra. It is associated with the Chalcolithic period (specifically the Jorwe culture, c. 1400–700 BCE) and provides extensive evidence regarding the burial customs of early farming communities.
- Statement 1 is Correct: At Inamgaon, adults were generally buried in the ground, laid out straight, with the head oriented towards the north. This specific North-South orientation was a standard practice in the region during this period.
- Statement 2 is Correct: The burials included grave goods. Vessels containing food and water were placed with the dead, suggesting a belief in the afterlife or the provision of necessities for the deceased.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: Burials were not restricted to areas outside the settlement. A distinctive feature of the Inamgaon site is that adults were frequently buried within the houses, beneath the floor. In a notable instance, a body was found buried in a large, four-legged clay jar in the courtyard of a large five-roomed house located in the center of the settlement.
Key Takeaway: The Chalcolithic culture at Inamgaon is characterized by intra-mural burials (burials within the living space/houses), where bodies were oriented North-South and accompanied by pottery containing food and water.