How do archaeologists trace socio-economic differences in Harappan society? What are the differences that they notice?
Archaeologists trace socio-economic differences in Harappan society primarily through the study of burials. This is one of the main strategies used to identify social or economic differences amongst people within a particular culture.
At Harappan sites, the dead were generally laid in pits. However, archaeologists have noticed variations in the way burial pits were made. In some instances, the hollowed-out spaces were lined with bricks. These differences in burial construction could potentially be an indication of social differences.
However, the context notes that Harappan cemeteries show little social differentiation compared to other contemporary civilisations like Egypt, where royal burials contained enormous quantities of wealth. The question of whether the variations in Harappan burial pits truly indicate social differences remains uncertain.
Archaeologists also have to develop frames of reference and sometimes depend on indirect evidence to reconstruct aspects of the Harappan society. Several reconstructions remain speculative at present, and more research is required on various aspects of Harappan society.
Explanation
The textbook explains that archaeologists use burials as a strategy to identify social and economic differences. While Egyptian pyramids from the same period show clear royal burials with wealth, Harappan burials show simpler practices - dead laid in pits, with some having brick-lined hollows. The text explicitly states that Harappan cemeteries show 'little social differentiation' and that whether variations indicate social differences is uncertain ('We are not sure').