Indus Valley Civilization: Script and Continuity with Indian Culture

Sub: History

Sec: Ancient India

Context:

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a $1 Million prize for anyone who can decipher the Indus Valley script.
Mr. Stalin said at an event in Chennai to mark the centenary of the discovery of the Indus Valley Civilisation by Sir John Marshall

Overview of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC)

The IVC thrived between 3300 BCE and 1300 BCE, with prominent urban centers like Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, and Dholavira.
It is known for its advanced urban planning, standardized weights, and an undeciphered script.
Despite extensive scholarly efforts, the linguistic affiliation of the Indus script remains unresolved.
Indus Valley Script:
The Indus script is predominantly found on seals, pottery, amulets, tablets, and larger artifacts like signboards.
Harappan seals usually have a line of writing, probably containing the name and title of the owner. Scholars have also suggested that the motif (generally an animal) conveyed a meaning to those who could not read.
Most inscriptions are short, the longest containing about 26 signs. Although the script remains undeciphered to date, it was evidently not alphabetical (where each sign stands for a vowel or a consonant) as it has just too many signs – somewhere between 375 and 400.
It is apparent that the script was written from right to left as some seals show a wider spacing on the right and cramping on the left, as if the engraver began working from the right and then ran out of space. Consider the variety of objects on which writing has been found: seals, copper tools, rims of jars, copper and terracotta tablets, jewellery, bone rods, even an ancient signboard

Types of Symbols

Pictorial Symbols:

Represent animals such as bulls, elephants, fish, rhinoceroses, and tigers, as well as human-like figures.
The worship of animals is evident from the many terracotta figurines and seals that have been excavated.

Geometric Signs:

Composite Symbols:

Combine pictorial and geometric elements, suggesting complex meanings or linguistic constructs.

Indus Valley Civilization: Locations and Scripts Found

Location	Script Found	Key Characteristics
Harappa	Seals, pottery inscriptions	Features religious and administrative symbols; includes animals like Bulls,Unicorn,fishes,etc.
Mohenjo-Daro	Seals, pottery inscriptions	Similar to Harappa; rich in animal motifs and geometric patterns
Dholavira (Gujarat, India)	10-sign sandstone inscription, inscribed pottery, architectural elements	Public sign with unique 10-symbol inscription; highlights urban planning
Lothal (Gujarat, India)	Inscribed seals, tools	Primarily linked to trade activities; inscriptions on tools and seals

Potential Continuity Between Indus Valley and Later Cultures
Evidence from Keezhadi (Tamil Nadu):

Archaeological excavations unearthed 72 inscribed potsherds with Tamil-Brahmi script and graffiti marks.
Archaeologists suggest that symbols engraved on pottery from the Indus Valley and Tamil Nadu share up to 90% similarity.
These findings support hypotheses of cultural and linguistic continuity.

Conclusion

Discoveries from Keezhadi have reignited discussions on cultural and linguistic continuity between the Indus Valley Civilization and later South Indian cultures.
While initial findings are promising, establishing definitive links requires research and additional evidence.
Deciphering the Indus script remains crucial for understanding the cultural legacy of the IVC and its possible connections to subsequent Indian civilizations.