The correct option is (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Explanation
Megalithic burials are large stone structures used to inter the dead, predominantly found in the Deccan, South India, the North East, and Kashmir. While the practice spans different periods, the Megalithic culture of Peninsular India is primarily associated with the Iron Age (c. 1000 BCE onwards). These burials are rich in archaeological finds that provide insights into the material culture and social practices of the time.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: Excavations at various Megalithic sites have yielded the skeletons of horses. This indicates that the horse was a domesticated animal of significant importance to these communities.
- Statement 2 is Correct: The Megalithic period in South India is characterized by the widespread use of iron. Burials frequently contain iron tools (such as axes, sickles, and chisels) and weapons (such as daggers, spears, and arrowheads).
- Statement 3 is Correct: The graves often contain personal items, including ornaments of gold and beads made of semi-precious stones like carnelian, suggesting a belief in the afterlife and the existence of social stratification.
- Statement 4 is Correct: Alongside horse skeletons, specific horse equipment such as iron bits, bridles, and snaffles has been recovered, confirming the use of horses for transport or warfare.
Key Takeaway:
The Megalithic culture of South India is distinctively an Iron Age culture, defined by the presence of Black and Red Ware pottery, iron implements, and the burial of horses and horse equipment alongside the dead.