1.8.1. Seals and sealings

Seals and sealings were used to facilitate long-distance communication. Imagine a bag of goods being sent from one place to another. Its mouth was tied with rope and on the knot was affixed some wet clay on which one or more seals were pressed, leaving an impression. If the bag reached with its sealing intact, it meant that it had not been tampered with. The sealing also conveyed the identity of the sender.

Seals served as a form of authentication for goods being transported. When merchants sent items over long distances, they needed to ensure that the items arrived undamaged and unaltered. To do this, they would tie the goods securely and use wet clay to make an impression with a seal. This process ensured that if the clay was intact upon arrival, it was an indication that the goods were secure and not tampered with. The seal itself often contained symbols or inscriptions that displayed the identity of the sender, much like a signature today.

Think of how modern shipping works today. When a package is sealed by the sender, it usually has a shipping label with the sender's information and sometimes a unique tracking number. If the package arrives at its destination with the packaging intact, the recipient knows it hasn’t been opened or tampered with. This practice is quite similar to how seals were used in the Harappan civilization.

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.

The writing found on Harappan seals provides insight into the society's complexity. The inscriptions likely indicated ownership, and the motifs, often images of animals, may have had symbolic importance, serving to convey messages to those who were not literate. Numerous signs suggest a sophisticated writing system, although it remains undeciphered. Interestingly, the way the signs are laid out indicates a right-to-left writing style, which provides clues about the structure of the language used at the time.

Consider how today’s branding works. Companies often have logos that represent their identity and can be understood even without knowledge of the brand name. For example, the apple logo is instantly recognizable as related to Apple Inc. In the same way, the symbols on Harappan seals served similar functions for trade and identity.

Exchanges were regulated by a precise system of weights, usually made of a stone called chert and generally cubical. The lower denominations of weights were binary (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32), while the higher denominations followed the decimal system (160, 200, 320, 640). The smaller weights were probably used for weighing jewellery and beads. Metal scale-pans have also been found.

The use of standardized weights in the Harappan civilization was crucial for trade and economic transactions. By having a reliable system of weights, merchants could ensure fair trade practices and measure goods accurately. For instance, the binary system for smaller weights allowed precise measurement of smaller items, like beads, which were important in trade. This uniformity likely helped in regulating trade and ensuring trust among merchants and traders.

Think about the weight scales used in grocery stores today. They have standardized measurements to ensure that when you buy a pound of apples, you get exactly that. This method establishes trust between the seller and buyer, echoing the standardized weights used in Harappan commerce.

--