The discovery of gold artifacts in Karnataka indicates:

The correct answer is: D) All of the above

The discovery of gold artifacts in Karnataka indicates early knowledge of metallurgy, trade contacts, and social hierarchy.

• Early knowledge of metallurgy: Gold is a very difficult metal to work with, and requires a high level of skill and knowledge to extract and refine. The discovery of gold artifacts in Karnataka indicates that the people of this region had a sophisticated understanding of metallurgy at a very early date.
• Trade contacts: Gold is a valuable commodity, and its presence in Karnataka indicates that the people of this region were involved in trade with other parts of the world. The gold artifacts found in Karnataka are made from a variety of different sources, which suggests that the people of this region were trading with a wide range of different cultures.
• Social hierarchy: The discovery of gold artifacts in Karnataka also indicates that there was a social hierarchy in this region. The gold artifacts found in Karnataka are not evenly distributed, but are concentrated in certain areas. This suggests that there were some people in this region who were wealthier than others, and that these wealthier people had access to gold.

In conclusion, the discovery of gold artifacts in Karnataka indicates early knowledge of metallurgy, trade contacts, and social hierarchy.