1.8.2. An enigmatic script

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.

Harappan seals were important artifacts of the Indus Valley Civilization, often made from steatite and engraved with images and writing. The writing on these seals typically included the name and title of the owner, which indicates the personal significance and possible governmental or commercial use. The animal motifs found on the seals likely held symbolic meanings, serving as a form of communication to those who were illiterate. This suggests that even in ancient times, there were ways to convey information visually.

Think of modern-day logos. Just as a logo can represent a brand without using words, the animal imagery on Harappan seals might have communicated wealth, power, or trade connections, so that even those who could not read could understand the seal's importance.

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.

The Harappan script consists of a large number of signs, making it unique and complex. Since the longest inscriptions only have about 26 signs, this hints that the writing might be more ideographic or meaningful in context rather than alphabetical. The writer's directionality is another fascinating aspect; seals were inscribed such that they started on the right and ended on the left, suggesting a specific style of writing that might have been common among literate Harappans.

This is similar to reading and writing in different cultures, like how Arabic is written from right to left while English is written from left to right. Even though we may not understand the Harappan signs today, the method in which they were inscribed can tell us about the culture's writing habits.

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! Remember, there may have been writing on perishable materials too. Could this mean that literacy was widespread?

The discovery of inscriptions across such a diverse range of artifacts suggests that writing may have permeated many aspects of Harappan life. Items made of durable materials like copper and clay provided a solid foundation for recording information. However, it is important to recognize that writing might have also existed on perishable materials that have since decayed, making it challenging to gauge the full extent of literacy in the Harappan civilization.

Think about how in modern times, emails and messages are often temporary and not saved; if we only had paper records, we might underestimate the extent of communication in a society. The Harappans might have similar scenarios, where much of their written communication was lost to time.

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