Videos on the script and writing in the ancient Indus Civilization
The keynote talk at the January 2020 Conference on the Indus Script at Mohenjo-daro covers larger themes on the Indus Valley civilization, the latest research and promising avenues of exploration by a variety of scholars present.
Dr. Jonathan Mark Kenoyer delivers the 23rd Gulestan and Rustom Billimoria Endowment Lecture at the Asiatic Society of Mumbai, Dec. 14, 2020. A deep exploration of the Indus script and its evolution in the context of Indus civilization and other neighbouring Bronze Age cultures and their writing systems. Profusely illustrated, and including the latest research by leading scholars.
Dr. Dennys Frenez discusses the larger frame of seals and sealings in the ancient world and how ancient Indus seals found outside South Asia fit into this picture.
A fascinating look at inscribed objects from a site near Rakigarhi, which goes from the inscriptions that likely belonged to spindle whorls used by weavers to more complex identity and other graffiti markers that may have designated ownership.
Ayumu Konaskuwawa of Kyoto University goes through the first chronology and detailed study of Indus seal production in Kunal, Farmana, Banawali, and Rakigarhi based on the latest scientific techniques.
From the earliest bone seal fragment discovered at Harappa, from 4000 BCE to the varied, diverse seals of around 2500 BCE to the later, fewer ones after 1900 BCE, Jonathan Mark Kenoyer discusses styles and technologies in a long seal-making tradition.
Dr. Marta Ameri discusses the various types of seals and sealings, with emphasis on the fact that seals were primarily made to be reproduced.
P. Ajithprasad and Gregg Jamison expertly review two recently excavated fortified sites in Gujarat and the seal and sealing finds in stratigraphic context to speculate on their use and purpose.
Ancient Indus sites in Gujarat have both Indus and non-Indus material culture, revealing a distinct regional integration that "parallels other ancient and modern globalization processes," in the words of Dr. Jamison. Seals are a great source of studying this interaction: how are these seals both different and similar?
A fascinating public lecture about the Tata Institute research and what a mathematical approach to the Indus script can suggest.
