Which one of the following statements regarding Harappan civilization is correct?

The Harappan civilization was a highly advanced urban society, not rural-based, characterized by sophisticated civic planning and grid-patterned cities [t2, t6]. Regarding materials, the standard Harappan seals were primarily made of a soft stone called steatite, not clay, although terracotta and copper variants existed [c1, t2]. The inhabitants possessed advanced metallurgical knowledge, actively producing and using both copper and bronze for tools, ornaments, and statues [c4, t2, t5]. Archaeological evidence confirms that the Harappans were pioneers in textile production; they grew and used cotton, with traces found at various sites [c5]. This is further supported by indirect evidence such as depictions in sculpture and the presence of spindle whorls. Consequently, the statement that they grew and used cotton is the only correct option among the choices provided.

Sources

1. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 1: Bricks, Beads and Bones > Bricks, Beads and Bones The Harappan Civilisation > p. 1
2. [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 1: Early India: From the Beginnings to the Indus Civilisation > Craft Production > p. 11
3. [3] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 1: Bricks, Beads and Bones > 11.1 Classifying finds > p. 22
4. [4] https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/kefa102.pdf