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Massimo Vidale

Ancient Indus questions answered by Massimo Vidale, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Padua, Italy and eminent Italian scholar in the field of archaeology. He has numerous articles on this website.

65. Why have Western and Indian experts studied the Harappan civilisation?

Asko Parpola
Massimo Vidale
Shereen Ratnagar

Among the more intriguing questions from site visitors, answered by three Indus archaeologists, from India, Italy and Finland.

93. Why do some people call Harappan civilization the "steatite civilization"?

Dennys Frenez
Jonathan Mark Kenoyer
Massimo Vidale
Nisha Yadav

And what exactly is steatite?

Dennys Frenez, Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, Nisha Yadav and Massimo Vidale respond.

67. Is flint knapping around the Indus period similar or different to flint knapping in other Bronze age societies?

Massimo Vidale
Paolo Biagi

Another question from our site visitors answered by Indus scholars.

69. Are there connections between the Ramayana epic and the Indus Valley Civilization?

Massimo Vidale
Mayank Vahia
Shereen Ratnagar

Three experts respond to a question from one of our users.

71. Is there any reason to believe now that there might be a connection between the IVC script and the Easter Island Rongorongo?

Asko Parpola
Massimo Vidale
Mayank Vahia
Nisha Yadav

Some similarities have been found in the glyphs between Rongorongo and Indus writing. As well, the direction of writing (boustrophedon) might be the same/similar to Indus. What do scholars say?

73. Are all the images of Indus seals available on the web for free download?

Asko Parpola
Massimo Vidale

Would it not be good idea to publish them so many people can see them and try their conclusions?

75. Where does the interpretive controversy with Farmer on the Indus script stand today?

Asko Parpola
Massimo Vidale
Mayank Vahia

Answered by Massimo Vidale, Asko Parpola and Mayank Vahia.

77. Was the diet of the Indus valley inhabitants vegetarian or non-vegetarian?

Jonathan Mark Kenoyer
Massimo Vidale
Mayank Vahia

Did the Indus valley civilization people cultivate paddy or wheat? Was their diet vegan or vegetarian? 3 scholars reply.

80. Were there any schools, universities or academies at Indus sites?

Asko Parpola
Jonathan Mark Kenoyer
Massimo Vidale

Massimo Vidale
We have no evidence, but they certainly had, because complex culture needs to transmitted by specialized institutions. The "Assembly hall" on the Citadel of Mohenjo-Daro might have been something similar, if the excavators were right.

Jonathan Mark Kenoyer
So far we have not found any buildings that could be interpreted as institutions of education. Indus peoples undoubtedly had ways to teach their children, but they were probably done in small houses that do not look any different from other houses.

82. Have the remains of a marketplace or shop been found at any of the Indus sites?

Dennys Frenez
Jonathan Mark Kenoyer
Massimo Vidale
Randall Law
Rita P. Wright

Are there any structural remains in any of the Harappan sites to point to a marketplace or shop where goods were bought and sold? What do scholars have to say about the market system in those days, apart from the well-known theory of goods being stored in a storehouse and taken by boats for trade?

Asked by Biswajeet Rath

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Answers by Author (6)
  • Asko Parpola
  • Iravatham Mahadevan
  • Jane McIntosh
  • Richard H. Meadow
  • Rita P. Wright
  • Shereen Ratnagar
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