The Script of Harappa and Mohenjodaro and its Connection with Other Scripts c6.1

c6.1

The existence of the script dealt with in this work has been known to Orientalists for half a century, or more. But it was not till the Archaeological Department of the Government of India took in hand the systematic excavation of the ancient sites now known as Harappa and Mohenjodaro that any considerable number of texts was forthcoming. Even now the texts we possess, though numerous, are very short, being mainly confined to engravings on seals. No stelae have as yet been found.¹ Nevertheless it is felt that the texts at our disposal are sufficiently numerous to justify the present attempt to collate them and classify their signs, and draw certain inferences regarding the nature of the script. Plates I to XXXVII indicate the extent of the discoveries of inscribed objects up to the close of the excavating season - late February - 1927. They are reproductions of autographic copies made by the writer at the Museums of Mohenjodaro and Harappa during March and April 1927. They reproduce, then, all the script that we at present possess with the exception of the following, which have already appeared elsewhere:- 1. 𐀀𐀁𐀂𐀃𐀄 R.A. Vol. 22, page 99.