Attribute OR Artefact OR Attribute of Intangible Artefacts – A Case of Indus (Harappan) Script
Channel: Recording Archaeology
Date: 2021-02-17

Attributes describe artefacts. Physical attributes help us explain the inherent properties of the object whereas contextual properties contribute in explaining it’s acquired meaning. However, certain attributes acquire more significance than the artefact itself. The entire analysis then revolves around explaining the attribute with it’s range of values seen on artefacts. Even if the artefact types vary, the perceived value of the attribute is so high that the studies undermine underlying variations in artefact types, other inherent attributes, their spatio-temporal context, and their possible diverse cultural values in contemporary societies (overarching context). The attribute takes over becoming a virtual artefact itself and dominates the academic research in space and time.

The case of Indus/ Harappan (2600-1900 BCE - mature phase) signs is one such prominent example. The void of any bi-scriptual material or references from other contemporary cultures (except contentious reference of Meluhha) has awarded complete freedom for the analysis and it’s interpretations over decades. This has also showcased presentist views while comparing the iconographies to current religious ideologies, yoga practice, interpreting the signs as words/ meanings as those from existing group of languages and even commenting about the literacy of
the Indus society. The statistical and linguistic studies of these signs have provided many observations till date but as mentioned earlier, these are devoid of overarching context in majority of the cases. In fact the extremes of academic opinions range from signs representing words from dravidian language (Rao, 2011) vis-a-vis signs ‘not even evolving in linguistic directions after at least 600 years of use’ (Farmer et al, 2004). The types of artefacts bearing these signs and their overarching context probably has much to contribute to our understanding of these signs and their usage pattern. The present paper analyses these various contexts and possibilities of interpretation by considering signs are powerful attribute rather than artefact in space and time.

PALLAVEE GOKHALE, INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, PUNE