Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c7.s6.25

c7.s6.25

There are two main problems about its Chronology, viz. its syncronism with the ancient cultures flourishing towards the west and its relationship with the Aryan culture of India. Fortunately, the first argument has found a firm solution in archaeology, viz. the discovery of Indus Valley seals in Mesopotamian sites and vice verse and also of some special articles from the west found in the Indus Valley. A total of about 30 Indus seals was found in the protohistoric cities of Mesopotamia and other places. C. J. Godd discussed 16 seals of the Indus style from Ur and two others from Babylonia as well as 8 earlier specimens from Kish, Susa, Lagash, Umma and Tell Asmar and two from unknown sites. To this may be added a second seal from Tell Asmar and another from Tepe Gawra near Mosul and another seal from farther west in Syria. Wheeler made a critical study of the context in which these seals were found and has recorded a list of twelve seals for which some sort of dating can be postulated : one may be pre-Sargonid (an Indian Bull with lowered head, before 2350 B. C.) ; seven of the Sargonid period (2350 B.C.–2000 B.C.) ; and four of the Larsa period (c. 1800 B.C.) and later ((possibly Kassite, about 1500 B.C.). This indicates that during the period 2500 B. C.–1500 B. C. the Indus civilisation can be dated on the basis of its contacts with Mesopotamia. Other classes of objects also furnish evidence of co-existence viz. etched carnelian beads, bone-inlays of kidney-shape, pottery bearing knobs found at Tell Asmar; a small casket of greenish grey stone (chlorite schist) with a matted pattern on it found at Mohenjo-daro and at Ur, Kish, Lagash and Susa.