Harappa

Iravatham Mahadevan Indus Research Center, Chennai
Richard H. Meadow Harvard University
Asko Parpola University of Helsinki
Shereen Ratnagar Jawaharlal Nehru University
Rita P. Wright New York University
Paolo Biagi Ca' Foscari University, Venice
Dennys Frenez University of Bologna, Ravenna
Jonathan Mark Kenoyer University of Wisconsin, Madison
Randall Law University of Wisconsin, Madison
Gwen Robbins Schug Appalachian State University
Mayank Vahia TIFR | Nisha Yadav TIFR
Massimo Vidale University of Padua
Jane McIntosh Cambridge University

Ancient Indus Questions & Answers

Answers to questions from you and our Facebook page visitors by distinguished ancient Indus scholars and archaeologists.

We publish a new question and answer every Saturday morning. Submit your question to our panel of scholars.

45. Were camels present in the Indus Civilization or not?

44. Who is excavating in the ancient Indus area right now, and where and can students participate?

Richard H. Meadow, Shereen Ratnagar, Rita P. Wright

43. How does the dolphin appear in Indus iconography?

Richard H. Meadow

42. What is current thinking on the female diety with outstretched arms in the ancient Indus, Egyptian and Mesopotamian cultures?

Iravatham Mahadevan, Jane McIntosh, Richard H. Meadow, Rita P. Wright

41. Is there new evidence to further support the 'min' (star/fish) decipherment theory?

Iravatham Mahadevan

40. Are there any connections between irrigation systems in South India and the IVC?

Iravatham Mahadevan

39. Have we found any 'writing instruments' that could have been used to paint or etch materials?

Iravatham Mahadevan

38. How does the use of Mitra-Varuna mythology reconcile with syncretic interpretations?

37. If you had to place money on where a future Rosetta stone with inscriptions in the ancient Indus language and another language might be found, where would you bet?

Iravatham Mahadevan, Jane McIntosh, Richard H. Meadow, Shereen Ratnagar, Rita P. Wright

36. Are there still many unread ancient Mesopotamian texts in archives that if researched properly, might cast light on the Indus civilization?

35. Being the largest bronze age civilization, in what extent did the IVC impose their customs and culture on neighbouring cultures such as the ancient Middle East?

34. Where were ancient Indus agricultural fields located?

33. What was the Indus administrative machinery like?

32. What did the Harappa people eat? From what flowers/minerals did they get their pigments from?

31. What is the best thing that could happen to ancient Indus studies?

Iravatham Mahadevan, Jane McIntosh, Richard H. Meadow, Shereen Ratnagar, Rita P. Wright

30. Was there something mysterious that provided balance to Mesopotamian-IVC trade?

Jane McIntosh, Shereen Ratnagar, Rita P. Wright

29. Can we say anything about the town Vataman near Lothal?

28. Was drug-smoking prevalent in the Indus Valley Civilization?

Jane McIntosh, Richard H. Meadow

27. How did Harappans measure value?

Asko Parpola, Iravatham Mahadevan, Richard H. Meadow

26. What is the evidence for specific religious practices in the IVC?

Iravatham Mahadevan

25. Was feminine beauty exemplified by a race different than the one inhabiting the IVC?

Jane McIntosh, Shereen Ratnagar, Rita P. Wright

24. Do we have any evidence of a migration from the Indus to South India?

Iravatham Mahadevan, Richard H. Meadow

23. What single connection between the ancient Indus civilization and modern Tamil culture is the most impressive to you?

Iravatham Mahadevan

22. Is there any evidence showing any connection to the Vedic Gods, such as Mithr (Mihr, Mehr, Mir)?

Iravatham Mahadevan, Shereen Ratnagar

21. How did ancient Indus traders navigate without a compass?

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