Among the following options, which ancient site is recognised as the earliest city discovered in India in the context of the Indus Valley or Harappan civilisation?

Introduction / Context:
The discovery of the Indus Valley or Harappan civilisation in the early twentieth century completely changed our understanding of ancient Indian history. Two major urban centres, Harappa and Mohenjodaro, became well known around the world. This question asks which of these sites is recognised as the earliest city discovered in India in the context of that civilisation, a foundational fact for ancient history questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The focus is on the earliest city discovered in India related to the Indus Valley civilisation. • The options are Sindh, Mohenjodaro, Harappa and Rangpur. • We assume knowledge that the initial discovery of the civilisation is often linked with Harappa.

Concept / Approach:
Harappa, located in present day Pakistan, was the first site where archaeologists found evidence of a previously unknown urban civilisation in the Indus region. Excavations at Harappa took place in the 1920s under the Archaeological Survey of India and revealed a planned city with brick houses, streets and drainage. This led to the recognition of a new Bronze Age urban civilisation. Mohenjodaro, another major city in Sindh, was discovered around the same time but Harappa gave its name to the whole culture, which is often called Harappan civilisation. Other sites like Rangpur were identified later as parts of the broader civilisation.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recall that the civilisation is called Harappan civilisation because Harappa was the site that first attracted archaeological attention. 2. Recognise that Mohenjodaro is another very important city, but Harappa findings came first in sequence and naming. 3. Understand that Sindh is a region, not a single city, so it cannot be the name of the earliest city discovered. 4. Know that Rangpur is an Indus related site in Gujarat which was excavated later and is not the earliest discovery. 5. Therefore, among the given options, Harappa is regarded as the earliest discovered city of this civilisation in the Indian subcontinent context.

Verification / Alternative check:
Histories of archaeological discovery in India emphasise that in 1921 and 1922, excavations at Harappa and Mohenjodaro revealed urban remains. Harappa is usually mentioned first and is used to name the civilisation. Textbooks often state that Harappa is the earliest discovered city of this culture, while Mohenjodaro and other sites are described afterwards. This consistent narrative confirms that Harappa is the correct answer to the question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sindh: Refers to a geographic region that includes sites like Mohenjodaro but is not itself the name of an excavated city. Mohenjodaro: An equally important city of the Indus civilisation, but Harappa is usually credited as the earlier discovery and gives its name to the culture. Rangpur: A later discovered site in Gujarat, not the first city through which the civilisation became known to archaeologists.

Common Pitfalls:
Because Mohenjodaro is often highlighted in photographs and documentaries, students sometimes assume it must have been the first city discovered. Others may be misled by the regional name Sindh. To avoid confusion, it is helpful to remember that the entire civilisation bears the name Harappan, a strong clue that Harappa was the initial key discovery that revealed this ancient urban culture to modern scholars.

Final Answer:
The earliest city discovered in connection with the Indus Valley civilisation was Harappa.