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Rhinoceros objects and motifs in the Ancient Indus civilization.

Rhinoceros (R. unirornis) Seals

[Original 1931 text] This animal also rarely appears on the seals, Nos. 341-7 being the only examples that we have as yet. In every case it is the single horned animal that is represented, probably the great Indian rhinoceros which was formerly foun… >

Seals, Mohenjo-daro

Other animal motifs appearing on seals found primarily at the largest cities include dangerous wild animals like the rhinoceros, the water buffalo, the gharial (crocodile) and the tiger. All of these animals would have been familiar to people living… >

Two rhinoceros figurines from Harappa.

Larger wild animals such as the rhinoceros with its distinctive "horned" snout are also represented. Although the rhinoceros is no longer found in many areas of the Indus region, rhinoceros bones have been found at Harappa. Some rhinoceros figurines… >

Rhinoceros figurine from Harappa

Although it was surely a wild animal, some of the rhinoceros figurines wear collars. While a collar might indicate domestication, it is unlikely that this is the case with the rhinoceros, although they may have been held as captives. Approximate … >

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