The Indus Script: Texts, Concordance and Tables c4.s7.t3: The different sides of the objects and their specification
The Indus Script: Texts, Concordance and Tables c4.s7.t3
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The different sides of the objects and their specification
c4.s7.t3.1
Many of the objects have two or more (up to six) sides with inscriptions, pictures or engravings of one kind or another. It is clear that all such sides had to be photographed and published. But the photography carried out for the Corpus was extended to comprise even the empty sides. This procedure made it possible to verify afterwards whether a given side of a specific object really is empty. Another reason for documenting all the sides of the objects was the need to check the excavation number (and often the museum number as well), which has usually been painted on the object.⁶²
c4.s7.t3.2
⁶² In some cases the excavation number painted on the object differs from that assigned to it in the lists of the excavation reports; sometimes the difference is likely to be due to a mistake in the report; sometimes the number painted on the object has become obliterated and has been erroneously restored.
c4.s7.t3.3
Originally the publication of all the sides of all the objects was contemplated, but this would have been too expensive, and for most of the users of the Corpus, the sides now left out are of little interest. So only a selection of the uninscribed sides is published in the Corpus: they are shown when needed to give an idea of the shape of the object, especially if a divergent type of seal is concerned.⁶³
c4.s7.t3.4
⁶³ However, it was deemed unnecessary to show all the sides of some shapeless lumps (such as L-120). If side edges are shown, it is the edge with a hole going through the object that is selected.
c4.s7.t3.5
The different sides of the objects are indicated in the Corpus by means of capital letters, which normally have the following significance: A = the obverse (which is taken as the point of reference for the other sides) / B = the reverse / C = the upper side / D = the right side / E = the lower side / F = the left side. The principal (rectangular) sides of the three-sided prisms are numbered A, B, and C and their (triangular) ends D and F.⁶⁴
c4.s7.t3.6
⁶⁴ An additional letter G is used in M-494 and M-495 which, classified as three-sided prisms, actually are four-sided.
c4.s7.t3.7
The corresponding lower case letter is used to refer to the impression taken of any of the sides, for instance, a = impression of A.
c4.s7.t3.8
Different inscriptions (for instance, impressions made with separate seals) on any one side of an object have been numbered with Arabic numerals following the letter for the side, and usually the corresponding numbers have been marked beside the respective inscriptions alongside the photograph. The order is, conventionally, from left to right and from top to bottom.
c4.s7.t3.9
If two or three different photographs of the same side are published, the code number for the second, third and fourth photograph is followed by the words *bis*, *ter* and *quater* respectively. Such photographs are usually arranged in the temporal order, from the oldest (first) to the latest (last). If different parts of the same side are shown in several photographs (as in the case of the cylinder seal M-418), these are given a separate Arabic numeral put within parentheses after the letter indicating the side: M-418 A (1), M-418 A (2), etc. The same is done if one picture gives a general view of a side and another an enlargement of its inscription (as in the case of the pots M-420 to M-422).
c4.s7.t3.10
The aim of these conventions is to make each photograph and the reference to it unambiguous.