The script of the Indus Valley Civilization, which consists of more than 4,000 seals and inscriptions, makes this highly developed Bronze Age society (2500-1900 B.C.) difficult to understand. According to UNESCO estimates, the script contains 400-600 distinct symbols. It is difficult to interpret because of its brief inscriptions, lack of bilingual texts, and disagreement over linguistic lineage. Very few script samples exist, and the script of the Indus Valley Civilization is still incomprehensible. Since the inscriptions are often brief—containing only four to five symbols—it is challenging to determine grammar, syntax, or language structure. The Rosetta Stone contained extensive text for deciphering, while most of the Indus seals are only 1-2 inches tall and contain small symbols. Unlike the Rosetta Stone, no bilingual texts that compare and decode the Indus script have been discovered. There are similarities between cuneiform and other ancient languages in Mesopotamian inscriptions, but not in the Indus seals.
It is a matter of debate among academics whether the script is a writing system or administrative or symbolic signs with no linguistic basis. Rather than being a full-fledged writing system, Western scholars argue that the Indus symbols are more like tokens of early trade systems. Many seals and symbols have been discovered outside their original archaeological context, leading to conjectural interpretations. At Mohenjo-Daro, seals were often found in layers of debris during excavations, with no obvious association with artifacts or urban functions. The destruction of many sites due to urban development and neglect has resulted in a reduced amount of decipherable artifacts. Due to encroachment, access to inscriptions and archaeological layers at sites such as Kalibangan has been restricted. The script is difficult to decode due to inaccessible databases. Lack of full digitization and restrictive deciphering policies often prevent researchers from having full access to Indus inscriptions.
Many seal databases are still unannotated, hindering researchers’ ability to perform systematic linguistic or computational analysis. Politicians often oppose and debate interpretations that link the script to particular linguistic or cultural groups. Opponents of the “Aryan” interpretation challenge claims of a “Dravidian” connection, making objective research more difficult. Because of political and logistical differences, South Asian countries have not coordinated well on joint research. Few joint archaeological programs exist between India and Pakistan, two important IVC heritage stakeholders. Advances in AI and computational linguistics have still not been fully utilized for pattern recognition in script. While Mayan symbols were decoded by AI, there is not enough annotated data for comparable machine-learning applications on Indus seals. Existing sites and inscriptions may be even more destroyed by floods and climate change.
In 2022, floods severely damaged Mohenjo-daro, worsening the loss of its distinctive artifacts. Providing open access to databases is one way to encourage collaborative research. Digitize and centralize all information about seals and artifacts to ensure worldwide access in the proper archaeological context. Successful heritage data digitization is modeled by platforms such as Europeana, which could serve as a guide for similar initiatives on the Indus. Encourage collaboration between international universities and South Asian countries for politically neutral, multidisciplinary research. Mesopotamian artifact projects coordinated by UNESCO show successful international collaboration. Investigate script patterns and linguistic possibilities using artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and computational models.
The Voynich Manuscript was decoded using machine-learning algorithms that were trained on well-known medieval scripts. Emphasize how important the Indus script is to understanding ancient history to generate interest and funding. Tamil Nadu’s prize initiative is an example of how financial incentives can rekindle interest in cultural and linguistic mysteries. More regulation is needed to prevent natural disasters or urbanization from destroying archaeological sites. For example, the preservation of Egypt’s Valley of the Kings provides insights on how to protect cultural heritage from human interference. Archaeologists, linguists, and AI researchers should work together across different disciplines to decipher the script. Global funding for AI-based pattern recognition and UNESCO’s digital collections programs are two examples of initiatives that can bridge the gap.
A committed international research consortium can foster innovations to help reconstruct the socio-cultural and economic aspects of this mysterious civilization.
