UPSC IAS exam preparation - Ancient and Medieval History - Lecture 4

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The Indus Civilisation - Part 2

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 9.0 The Harappan Script

The Harappans invented the art of writing like the people of Ancient Mesopotamia. Although the earliest specimen of Harappan script was noticed in 1853 and the complete script discovered by 1923, it has not been deciphered so far. Some try to connect it with the Dravidian or the proto-Dravidian language, others with the Sanskrit language, and still others with the Sumerian language, but none of these readings is satisfactory. As the script has not been deciphered, we cannot judge the Harappan contribution to literature, nor can we say anything about their ideas and beliefs.

Unlike the Egyptians and Mesopotamians, the Harappans did not write long inscriptions. Most inscriptions were recorded on seals, and contain only a few words. These seals may have been used by propertied people to mark and identify their private property. Altogether we have about 250 to 400 pictographs, and in the form of a picture each letter stands for some sound, idea or object. The Harappan script is not alphabetical but mainly pictographic. Attempts have been made to compare it with the contemporary scripts of Mesopotamia and Egypt. But it is the indigenous product of the Indus region, and does not show any connection with scripts of Western Asia.

10.0 Weights and Measures

 The knowledge of script must have helped the recording of private property and the keeping of accounts. The urban people of the Indus region also needed and used weights and measures for trade and other transactions. Numerous articles used for weights have been found. They show that in weighing mostly 16 or its multiples were used; for instance, 16, 64, 160, 320 and 640. Interestingly the tradition of 16 has continued in India till modern times and till recently 16 annas made one rupee. The Harappans also knew the art of measurement. We have come across sticks inscribed with measure matles; one of these is made of bronze.

11.0 Other features

11.1 Harappan pottery

The Harappans were great experts in the use of the potter's wheel. Numerous pots painted in various designs can be seen. Harappan pots were generally decorated with the designs of trees and circles. The images of men also appear on some pottery fragments.

 11.2 Seals

The greatest artistic creations of the Harappan culture are the seals. About 2000 seals have been found, and of these a great majority carry short inscriptions with pictures of the one- horned bull, the buffalo, the tiger, fuel rhinoceros, the goat and the elephant.

11.3 Images

The Harappan artisans made beautiful images of metal. A woman dancer made of bronze is the best specimen. Except for a necklace she is naked. A few pieces of Harappan stone sculptures are also found. One steatite statue wears an ornamented robe over the left shoulder, under the right arm and its short locks at the back of the head are kept tidy by a woven fillet.

11.4 Terracotta figurines 

We get many figurines made of fire-baked earthen clay, commonly called terracotta. These were either used as toys or objects of worship. They represent birds, dogs, sheep, cattle and monkeys. Men and women also find place, and the second outnumber the first, the seals and images were manufactured with great skill, but the terracotta pieces represent unsophisticated artistic works. The contrast between the two sets indicates the gap between the classes which used them. The first were used by members of the upper classes and the second by the common people. The Harappan culture is poor in artistic works made of stone. We do not come across any massive work of art in stone as we find in the case of sculptures of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. 

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