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Ancient Indus water buffalo figurines and motifs.

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… >

Ox- or water buffalo-drawn cart with driver from Harappa

Terracotta figurines have long been considered toys, often without question. Other objects such as carts, wheels, and charpoi (cots) made of terracotta at a similar scale may reinforce this interpretation for at least some of the terracotta figurine… >

Water buffalo figurine from Harappa

Water buffalo are often similar to figurines of humpless cattle, except that the water buffalo figurines usually have large (and sometimes incised) backswept horns. Approximate dimensions (W x H(L) x D): 6.0 x 8.0 x 6.0 cm. >

Water buffalo figurine from Harappa

Some quadruped figurines are difficult to classify because the general form and many of the attributes of humpless cattle, water buffalo, and even rams may be very similar. Any of the three may have incising on the face and/or horns. Sometimes the s… >

Attachable water buffalo horns from Harappa

The appropriation of animal attributes can be accomplished through such paraphernalia as masks/amulets and other objects that can be attached to a costume. Several large terracotta water buffalo horns with incised lines on the horns have been found … >

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