History Indus Valley Civilization Questions Medium
The evidence of writing and language in the Indus Valley Civilization is primarily found in the form of inscriptions on various artifacts, such as seals, pottery, and small tablets. These inscriptions are known as the Indus script.
The Indus script consists of a series of symbols, often referred to as pictograms, which were engraved or stamped onto these objects. Over 4,000 examples of the script have been discovered so far, but unfortunately, the script remains undeciphered, and its exact meaning and language are still unknown.
The inscriptions are typically short, consisting of four to five characters, and are usually found in a linear or boustrophedon (alternating direction) pattern. They are often accompanied by images of animals, plants, and other objects, which may provide some clues about their possible meanings.
In addition to the inscriptions, there are other linguistic clues that suggest the presence of a written language in the Indus Valley Civilization. For example, the presence of standardized weights and measures across different sites indicates the need for a system of communication and record-keeping. The existence of seals with unique symbols and motifs also suggests the use of writing for administrative purposes, such as marking ownership or validating documents.
However, due to the lack of a bilingual inscription or a known decipherment key, the exact nature of the Indus script and the language it represents remain a mystery. Various theories and hypotheses have been proposed, ranging from it being a logographic script (where symbols represent whole words) to a syllabic or even alphabetic system. Nonetheless, until further breakthroughs are made in deciphering the script, the precise details of the writing and language of the Indus Valley Civilization will continue to elude us.