The Harappan archaeological site of Surkotada is situated in:

Surkotada is a Harappan site in the Kutch district of Gujarat, about 160 kilometres north-east of Bhuj. It was discovered by J.P. Joshi in 1964 and excavated by him in 1971-72.

Surkotada was a small, fortified settlement. It had a citadel and a residential area, both enclosed by walls made of mud bricks and stone rubble. Its most important find is the bones of a horse, which some archaeologists, such as A.K. Sharma, identified as the remains of a domesticated horse. This is significant because the horse is generally thought to have been unknown or rare in the Harappan civilisation and is closely associated with the later Vedic Aryans. However, this identification is debated, and many scholars believe the bones may belong to a wild ass or another animal.

Other finds at Surkotada include pottery, beads, a burial in which the body was placed in a large pot (pot burial), and evidence of cremation.

Gujarat has the largest number of Harappan sites in India. Important Harappan sites in Gujarat include:

Lothal: a port town with a dockyard, in Ahmedabad district.

Dholavira: in the Rann of Kutch, a large city with an advanced water management system, a stadium and a signboard with ten Harappan letters. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.

Rangpur: in Surendranagar district, with evidence of rice.

Bhagatrav, Desalpur and Kuntasi.

The Indus Valley Civilisation (about 2600-1900 BCE in its mature phase) was first discovered in 1921 at Harappa, excavated by Daya Ram Sahni, and in 1922 at Mohenjo-daro, excavated by R.D. Banerji, under John Marshall, the Director-General of the ASI.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Rajasthan has Kalibangan.
• ✗Haryana has Rakhigarhi, Banawali and Bhirrana.
• ✗Punjab (India) has Ropar (Rupnagar).