The Indus Civilisation: A contextual approach to script

Abstract

The undeciphered script of the Indus Civilisation has been an enigma from the first publication of a stamp seal with inscription in 1875. Comparative linguistic, historical and data science approaches have been utilised for over a century to decipher this script, but these remain inconclusive due to the short nature of the inscriptions and lack of bilingual texts. Scholars have suggested that a contextual, archaeological approach to considering the inscribed artefact types, materials, and other characteristics is essential to gain further insight into the purpose and use of this script. This project explores the archaeological context of this undeciphered script through examination of features of inscribed artefacts and their contextual distribution at the sites of Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Lothal, Chanhudaro, Dholavira, Surkotada, Rakhigarhi and Farmana. Through in-depth frequency and relational analysis, it has been demonstrated that Indus inscribed artefacts occur consistently in association with other artefacts such as weights, beads, and inscribed animal and human figurines, and are found in a diverse range of archaeological contexts, including public, domestic, commercial, rubbish and funerary. The immersion of these inscribed artefacts into all facets of Indus life indicates that the use of this script was not limited to the wealthy or elite class, and that there may have been widespread literacy in Indus society, with individuals from all walks of life using seals, bas-relief and incised tablets and other inscribed artefacts for administrative, exchange, identification, ritual, and aesthetic purposes. This insight into the purpose and meanings of inscribed artefacts as an element of the Harappan “veneer” provides a foundation for future studies into the Indus script across sites of the Indus Civilisation.