In the context of Indus Valley Civilisation art, the famous figure of a dancing girl found at Mohenjodaro was made of which material?

Introduction / Context:
The Indus Valley or Harappan civilisation produced a variety of artistic objects including seals, figurines and jewellery. One of the most iconic artefacts from Mohenjodaro is a small statue popularly known as the dancing girl. This object is often shown in textbooks as evidence of artistic skill in casting metal. Knowing the material from which it was made is a classic question in Indian history and art culture sections of competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers specifically to the dancing girl figurine from Mohenjodaro.
• Options include terracotta, steatite, bronze, red limestone and copper.
• We assume standard archaeological descriptions accepted in exam literature.
• The statue is associated with metal casting technology.

Concept / Approach:
The dancing girl figurine from Mohenjodaro is about eleven centimetres high and is made using the lost wax method of bronze casting. The statue shows a young woman standing in a confident pose, adorned with bangles and a necklace. This use of bronze demonstrates the metallurgical skills of the Harappan people. Terracotta figurines were also common, but the most famous dancing girl is clearly metal, not clay. Steatite and red limestone were used for seals and other sculptures, not for this particular figure.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the object mentioned in the question as the famous dancing girl figurine from Mohenjodaro. Step 2: Recall textbook images and captions that describe it as a bronze statue cast by the lost wax technique. Step 3: Note that bronze is an alloy of copper and tin and was widely used in ancient civilisations for artistic and utilitarian objects. Step 4: Exclude terracotta and stone materials because the dancing girl does not belong to those categories. Step 5: Select bronze as the correct material used to make this renowned figurine.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you recall standard exam guides and museum descriptions, all of them label the dancing girl as a bronze statue from Mohenjodaro. Some even mention its approximate height and the casting technique. No authoritative source describes it as terracotta, stone or pure copper. This consistent description across many books, online resources and exam notes confirms that bronze is the correct answer and that the other materials are distractors.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option A: Terracotta figurines were common in the Indus civilisation but the specific dancing girl from Mohenjodaro is not terracotta.
• Option B: Steatite was typically used for seals and some small objects, not for this particular statue.
• Option D: Red limestone was used for some sculptures but not for the dancing girl figurine.
• Option E: Copper alone is not correct because the statuette is identified as bronze, which is an alloy.

Common Pitfalls:
The main confusion arises because students know that the Indus people used terracotta and various stones extensively. Under time pressure, they may pick a familiar material rather than recalling the specific details about this artefact. To avoid such mistakes, try to visualise textbook illustrations. When you think of the dancing girl, imagine the dark metallic sheen and the term bronze clearly labelled below the picture. Associating each famous artefact with its correct material is a simple but effective exam strategy.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Bronze.