In the terracotta art of the Harappan (Indus Valley) civilisation, which of the following animals is notably not represented?

Introduction / Context:
The Harappan or Indus Valley civilisation is famous for its seals, terracotta figurines, and urban planning. Exam questions often focus on what is present and what is absent in the archaeological record, because these details help us understand the economy, religion, and society of the period. This question asks which animal is notably missing from Harappan terracotta art, and this absence is historically significant for discussions about agriculture and religion in the civilisation.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on Harappan or Indus Valley terracotta art and figurines. • The options are cow, elephant, rhinoceros, and tiger. • We assume a basic knowledge of Indus art and seals.

Concept / Approach:
Archaeology based questions require awareness of which symbols and animals appear frequently on seals, terracotta pieces, and sculptural remains. Indus seals show a variety of animals such as the unicorn motif, bull, rhinoceros, elephant, and sometimes tigers or composite creatures. However, one striking point repeatedly emphasised in history textbooks is the relative absence of clear depictions of the cow, despite the importance of cattle in later Indian culture. This contrast between the prominence of the bull and the unclear representation of the cow makes the cow the correct choice when the question asks which animal is not represented in Harappan terracotta art.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall common animals on Harappan seals and figurines, such as bulls, elephants, rhinoceroses, tigers, and composite mythical creatures. Step 2: Note that the bull is very prominent, indicating the importance of cattle, trade, or fertility symbolism. Step 3: Consider the elephant and rhinoceros, which are both present on several seals and have been identified clearly by archaeologists. Step 4: Tigers or tiger like animals also appear, showing the variety of wildlife depicted by Harappan artists. Step 5: Compare this with references in standard history books which state that a decisive and unambiguous representation of the cow is not found in Harappan terracotta art. Step 6: Therefore, among the given options, the animal notably not represented is the cow.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by recalling exam friendly key points about Harappan civilisation. One standard line is that the bull is commonly shown but there is no firm evidence of a sacred cow cult like the one that developed later in Vedic and post Vedic times. Another check is to mentally associate each animal with famous Harappan artefacts. For example, many textbooks display images of an elephant on seals, a rhinoceros on another seal, and occasionally a tiger. When you try to recall a clearly labelled Harappan figurine of a cow, no such example comes to mind from school level sources, confirming the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Elephant: Elephants are clearly depicted on some Harappan seals, so they are present in the art of the civilisation. Rhinoceros: Archaeologists have identified a rhinoceros motif on several seals, so it is not absent. Tiger: A tiger or tiger like animal appears on a few seals, showing that the animal was known and depicted.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes assume that because cows are very important in later Indian culture and religion, they must have been equally prominent in the earliest urban civilisation. This leads to a guess that the cow is shown everywhere, which is not supported by the archaeological record. Another pitfall is to mix up seals and terracotta figurines or to ignore the distinction between a bull and a cow when identifying animals. Careful reading of textbooks and looking at pictures of original artefacts can prevent such confusion in exams.

Final Answer:
In the terracotta art of the Harappan civilisation, the animal that is notably not represented is the Cow.