Which of the following animals was not known to the people of the Indus Valley Civilization according to archaeological evidence?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of the fauna familiar to the Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilization, based on seals, figurines and other archaeological remains. Identifying which animals were known or unknown to the Harappans helps examiners check whether you can connect archaeological evidence with historical conclusions. In this case, the question asks you to pick the animal that was not known to them at all.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The options are bull, horse, giraffe and elephant.
• We rely on standard archaeological interpretations of Indus seals and remains.
• The question is not about ambiguity or debate but about an animal clearly outside the Harappan environment.
• We assume that 'not known' means there is no evidence that the civilisation was familiar with the animal.

Concept / Approach:
Archaeological discoveries show that the Indus people were familiar with bulls (including humped zebu bulls) and elephants, which appear on seals and figurines. There is scholarly debate about the extent to which the horse was known or domesticated in the Indus region, but the question here offers an option – giraffe – that is clearly foreign to the Indian subcontinent and to the Harappan environmental context. Giraffes are native to Africa and there is no archaeological evidence that Indus people knew this animal. Therefore, in an exam-style MCQ, 'Giraffe' is the safest and most clearly correct answer for 'not known' to the Indus Valley Civilization.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Harappan seals commonly depict humped bulls, elephants, rhinoceroses, unicorn-like figures and other animals.Step 2: Note that the bull is certainly known and frequently depicted; the elephant is also clearly represented.Step 3: Remember that the status of the horse in the Harappan context is debated, but some remains and seal-like figures have been interpreted as possibly equine.Step 4: Recognise that giraffes are African animals and there is no evidence of their presence or depiction in Indus sites.Step 5: Therefore, select 'Giraffe' as the animal not known to the Indus Valley people.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard exam-oriented books on ancient India often include this question or similar ones and give 'Giraffe' as the correct answer. They emphasise that bull and elephant are clearly present in the Indus record, while the horse is at least a subject of debate, but giraffe is completely absent. This pattern of model answers supports our choice and avoids unnecessary scholarly controversy in a multiple-choice context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Bull: Frequently depicted on seals; clearly known and important in Harappan society.Horse: While its domestication and prevalence are debated, some evidence suggests familiarity; it cannot be categorically labelled 'unknown' in the way giraffe can.Elephant: Also depicted in Harappan art and known to the civilisation.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students have read that the horse was not common in the Indus Civilization and may hastily choose 'Horse' as the answer. However, exam questions of this type usually include an option like 'Giraffe' to provide a much clearer choice. The safest strategy is to pick the animal that is obviously non-native and undocumented in Harappan archaeology, in this case the giraffe, rather than becoming entangled in scholarly debates over horses.

Final Answer:
The animal not known to the people of the Indus Valley Civilization was the giraffe.