Indus Valley Script

The Indus script, also known as the Harappan script, is a pictographic script developed during the Indus Valley Civilisation. The inscriptions from these symbols are very short. It is hard to judge whether these symbols consisted of a writing system. Hence experts are having a tough time deciphering the pictographic script. The script is also boustrophedon, which means it is written right to left in one line and then left to right in the preceding line.

The Indus script might have been developed somewhere between 3500 BC and 2700 BC. Although the script has been found on many objects, such as Harappan pottery, the origin of the script is not known. It is one of the oldest forms of writing from the Indian subcontinent consisting of various signs and symbols. The symbols and their interconnectedness that forms the language are yet to be fully understood.  

The Indus script remains a mystery because of the lack of bilingual texts and other forms of representation. Though some links have been discovered with Indian writings, the script is in the process of decipherment.

How much do we know about the Indus script?

The social scholars have agreed on various points about the Indus script :

• The Indus Script is boustrophedon. There are examples of bidirectional writing in Indus script. The direction of one line is in one direction and is in the opposite direction in the following line. 

• Scientists have identified certain numerical values. A single unit was represented by a downward stroke, whereas semicircles were used for units of 10.

• The Indus Valley script combines word signs and symbols with phonetic values. The writing system is called logo-syllabic. Some characters express ideas or words, while others represent sounds. 
• By 1800 BCE, the Indus Valley Civilization was on its decline for reasons yet to be known. The script, too, eventually disappeared with the civilisation.  

Materials used for script 

Pictographic writing of the Indus Valley was found on seals and seal impressions. The writings have been found on bronze and copper tables, pottery, bronze tools, bones and other objects recovered through archaeology. 

Although the need for imprinting the script on these objects is not known yet, some speculation has been made. For example, seals may have been used as amulets or talismans or as identification markers like badges. 

It is believed that the script had more of an administrative function since writing is usually associated with elites using it to record transactions. The script was found on clay tablets attached to bundles of goods used by traders. This is concluded from the fact that these tablets were also found in the Mesopotamia region (present Middle East), far from the Indus Valley.  

Conclusion

So far, the latest research states that around 400 signs of the Indus script have been identified. Around 31 signs are repeated over 100 times, and the rest are not used regularly. Researchers believe a large amount of the Indus script was written on perishable materials such as palm leaves and bamboo sticks which means they did not survive. Other researchers believe these 400 signs can just be made of 39 elementary signs, with the rest being variations. Despite being undeciphered, the script is of great importance as it is the only piece of evidence that proves the Indus Valley civilization existed.