Deciphering the Indus Script Via Comparative Analysis

The Indus script is one of the most enigmatic symbols of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) because of its brevity and lack of a bilingual key, like the Rosetta Stone, and it remains unsolved. This article develops a methodology for decoding the Indus script. The approach is based on linguistic and comparative analysis of epigraphic data and multiple ancient writing systems. Applying the proposed methodology to several Harappan artifacts yields phonetic and semantic reconstructions of several frequently occurring seals. Finally, the article argues that phonological and lexical similarities may point to intense interaction between Bronze Age cultures and the establishment of trade routes.