In the Indus Valley Civilization, the typical houses in the major towns were primarily constructed using which of the following materials?

Introduction / Context:
This question is from the Indus Valley or Harappan Civilization, one of the world's earliest urban cultures. It focuses on the building material used for houses in their planned cities. Understanding what materials they used helps to show their technological level, their control over resources, and their distinctive style of town planning. Many exam questions about the Indus Valley highlight the extensive use of standardised burnt bricks in houses, drains and city walls.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are discussing houses of the Indus Valley Civilization in major urban centres like Harappa and Mohenjo-daro.
• The options are pucca bricks, stone, wood, or a mixture of various materials.
• We can use standard archaeological findings as the basis.
• Minor use of other materials does not change what was primarily used.

Concept / Approach:
Archaeological excavations show that the Indus Valley cities had well-planned streets, drainage systems and brick houses. The bricks were of uniform size and were usually baked (burnt), which made them strong and durable. Stone was used at some sites and wood was used for doors, beams and roofing, but the main structural material for walls and platforms in the major towns was pucca (burnt) brick. Therefore, when asked about the characteristic material of Indus Valley houses, exam keys expect the answer 'Pucca (burnt) bricks'.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Harappan cities are famous for their brick-built houses and systematic layouts.Step 2: Remember that these bricks were often standardised in dimensions and were fired in kilns, making them 'pucca' or burnt bricks.Step 3: Note that stone architecture is more closely associated with later Indian kingdoms, and purely wooden houses would not match the excavated remains.Step 4: Consider the option saying 'a combination of stone, wood and bricks in equal measure'; this does not reflect the dominance of bricks in Harappan cities.Step 5: Choose 'Pucca (burnt) bricks' as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Any standard textbook chapter on the Indus Valley Civilization mentions that houses were usually made of baked bricks, sometimes with sun-dried bricks for inner walls, and that this was a striking feature compared to many other ancient cultures. Photographs and site plans clearly show rows of brick houses and platforms. This repeated emphasis across sources confirms that pucca bricks were the primary material used.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Stone blocks: While stone was used in some structures and other regions, it was not the dominant material for Harappan domestic architecture.Wooden planks and logs: Wood was certainly used, but the preserved archaeological record overwhelmingly shows brick walls, not all-wood houses.A combination of stone, wood and bricks in equal measure: This option misrepresents the clear dominance of bricks and suggests an equal mix that is not supported by excavations.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes assume that all ancient architecture must have been in stone, because famous later monuments like temples and forts are stone-built. This leads them to forget that many sophisticated ancient cities, including Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, relied heavily on baked bricks. Another error is to imagine that because wood decays, we simply do not see it, and then to overestimate its importance. For exams, remember that the key theme with the Indus Valley Civilization is extensive, systematic use of standardised burnt bricks for houses and town planning.

Final Answer:
Houses in the Indus Valley Civilization were primarily built of pucca (burnt) bricks.