The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
The post-Harappan period (after c. 1900 BCE) witnessed diverse cultural developments across the Indian subcontinent. This era includes the Vedic age in the northwest and the rise of Megalithic cultures associated with the Iron Age in peninsular India.
Statement 1 is Correct:
The Rigveda is the earliest Vedic text, composed roughly between c. 1500 and 1000 BCE. The geographical horizon of the Rigveda is the Sapta Sindhu region, which comprises the Indus river and its principal tributaries. The hymns frequently mention rivers such as the Indus (Sindhu), Saraswati, and the five rivers of Punjab.
Statement 2 is Incorrect:
Megaliths are stone structures marking burial sites. In Central and South India, the Megalithic culture emerged around 1500 BCE and continued through the Iron Age up to the early centuries of the Common Era. The statement that they emerged "only after the 4th century CE" is historically inaccurate, as this period corresponds to the Gupta era, long after the peak of the Megalithic tradition.
Statement 3 is Correct:
Megalithic burials are characterized by the placement of specific grave goods with the deceased. Excavations have consistently revealed iron tools and weapons (such as axes, daggers, and spearheads) alongside Black and Red Ware pottery. This association confirms that the Megalithic builders were well-acquainted with iron metallurgy.
Key Takeaway:
The Rigvedic Aryans inhabited the Indus region during the Early Vedic period, while the Megalithic culture of South India was an Iron Age tradition known for its distinctive stone burials and iron implements, flourishing well before the 4th century CE.