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Nisha Yadav

Ancient Indus questions answered by Dr. Nisha Yadav in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. She has numerous articles on this website, and the essay TIFR Indus Script Research.

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.

52. When did the Indus Valley Civilization start?

Jonathan Mark Kenoyer
Mayank Vahia
Nisha Yadav
Paolo Biagi

Answer to question 52. from our panel of leading ancient Indus archaeologists.

58. Why has the language of Harappa not been deciphered?

Asko Parpola
Jonathan Mark Kenoyer
Massimo Vidale
Nisha Yadav

What are the difficulties which makes it impossible to decipher the Harappan language? Aren't there any similarities with other languages?

Scholars answer another question from site visitors.

62. How old is the oldest ancient Indus writing?

Asko Parpola
Jonathan Mark Kenoyer
Massimo Vidale
Mayank Vahia
Nisha Yadav

Another question answered by expert ancient Indus scholars.

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?

72. Were seals also used as art objects and were they influenced by Sumerian seals?

Asko Parpola
Dennys Frenez
Mayank Vahia
Nisha Yadav

"There can be no doubt that some Indus seals are fine artistic achievements. Probably one of the main functions of the seal's iconographic motifs, and the quality of their carving, was to convey the status of the seal owner."

86. If you were a child in the ancient Indus valley, what would an average day be like for you?

Gwen Robbins Schug
Nisha Yadav
Paolo Biagi
Rita P. Wright

Gwen Robbins Schug, Paolo Biagi, Rita P. Wright and Nisha Yadav answer.

89. What is the relevance of Harappan civilization in today's world?

Gwen Robbins Schug
Massimo Vidale
Mayank Vahia
Nisha Yadav
Paolo Biagi
Rita P. Wright

Answered by Massimo Vidale, Mayank Vahia, Gwen Robbins Schug, Nisha Yadav, Paolo Biagi and Rita P. Wright

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