Description
The Indus Valley Seals are small steatite artifacts etched with pictographic symbols and animal motifs, discovered across the Indus Valley Civilization sites such as Mohenjo-daro, Harappa, and Dholavira. They are among the most enigmatic objects of the Bronze Age.
Historical context
Produced during the Mature Harappan period (c. 2600–1900 BCE), these seals likely served administrative, commercial, and ritual purposes. Their widespread distribution suggests a standardized system of identification and trade across the vast Indus network.
Content
The seals typically depict a single animal—unicorn, bull, elephant, tiger—accompanied by a short inscription in the undeciphered Indus script. Some seals show mythological scenes or ritual bathing motifs. The precision of carving indicates advanced lapidary skills and symbolic communication.
Modern status
Thousands of seals have been recovered and are housed in museums including the National Museum of Pakistan (Karachi), the Indian Museum (Kolkata), and the British Museum (London). Decipherment of the Indus script remains an active field of research.
Verification notes
Thermoluminescence dating of associated pottery and stratigraphic context confirms the 2600–1900 BCE range. The seals’ uniformity in size, material, and artistic style across distant sites supports the existence of a cohesive urban culture.
- Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).