This is a tribute to Michel Danino for a brilliant, insightful exposition of the linear units of measurement of Sindhu-Sarasvati civilization, the Dholavira site in particular. This provides the backdrop to a lapidary-smithy revolution in process, in Meluhha, resulting in the making of polished stone pillars, socketed stone slabs, stone-cut reservoirs and alloying tin with copper to create tin-bronzes of the Bronze Age, ca. 4th millennium BCE. This was matched by another revolution: Indus writing system to encode Meluhha (Mleccha) speech to create stone-ware, metal-ware catalogs of the Sarasvati-Sindhu civilization.
This is the huge hoarding on the northern gateway of Dholavira fortification. I call this the Bronze Age Meluhha Standard. The Standard exemplified the gateway to Bronze Age Sarasvati civilization. The Sheffield of the Ancient Near East, Chanhu-daro (River Sarasvati right-bank), is about 150 kms. to the north if a seafaring-riverine merchant from Sumer, Mesopotamia, Dilmun, or Magan moved on the navigable River Sarasvati beyond the port town of Dholavira.
Map showing the bird's foot palaeo-delta complex representing the mouths of three rivers identified as Shatadru (Hakra), Saraswati and Drishadvati (after ali et al.; after Fig. 3 in: Roy, AB & SR Jakhar, Late quaternary drainage disorganization, and migrtion and extinction of the Vedic Saraswati in Current Science, Vol. 81, No. 9, 10 November 2001, pp. 1188-1195 Source: http://tejas.serc.iisc.ernet.in/~currsci/nov102001/1188.pdf
Bronze Age Meluhha, smithy/lapidary documents, takṣat vāk, incised speech![]()
Dholavira (Kotda) on Kadir island, Kutch, Gujarat; 10 signs inscription found near the western chamber of the northern gate of the citadel high mound (Bisht, 1991: 81, Pl. IX); each sign is 37 cm. high and 25 to 27 cm. wide and made of pieces of white crystalline rock; the signs were apparently inlaid in a wooden plank ca. 3 m. long; maybe, the plank was mounted on the facade of the gate to command the view of the entire cityscape. Ten signs are read from left to right. The 'spoked circle' sign seems to be the divider of the three-part message. (Bisht, R.S., 1991, Dholavira: a new horizon of the Indus Civilization. Puratattva, Bulletin of Indian Archaeological Society, 20: 81; now also Parpola 1994: 113).
The signboard connotes in Meluhha language: Meluhha copper metalworking and lapidary (engraving, bead-making) complex of Bronze Age:
1. dhatu dul eraka 'mineral, cast (metal), molten cast copper
2.khāṇḍā‘tools, pots and pans, metal-ware’. aduru‘native metal’ kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe' (engraving) eraka 'molten cast copper'
3. loh‘(copper) metal’ kamaṭa = portable furnace for melting precious metals (Te.); kampaṭṭam = mint (Ta.) eraka 'molten cast copper'
This first sign board of the world verily constitutes the Bronze Age Standard of Eurasia -- not merely a Meluhha Standard.Ancient Near East Bronze Age Meluhha, smithy/lapidary documents, takṣat vāk, incised speech [Evidence from sites surrounding Bhuj in Kutch: Kanmer, Dholavira, Gola Dhoro (Bagasra), Shikarpur, Khirsara, Surkotada, Desalpur, Konda Bhadli, Juni Kuran, Narapa]
Dholavira. gateway. A designer's impressions (reconstruction) of the world's first signboard on the gateway of fortification or citadel.
See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2013/08/bronze-age-kanmer-bagasra.html Bronze Age Meluhha, smithy/lapidary documents, takṣat vāk, incised speech
http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2013/08/ancient-near-east-bronze-age-heralded.html Ancient Near East Bronze Age -- heralded by Meluhha writing
Dholavira City layout (seen from the southwest and west). Source: http://www.iisc.ernet.in/prasthu/pages/PP_data/dholavira.pdf
Sindhu-Sarasvati measuring scale. Lothal
Correlations with Vedic concepts
Addition of a fraction to the unit: 1 + 1/4 = 5/4
1+1+1/4 = 9/4
Repetition of a motif -- 5/4, 9/4 as in classical architecture.
Dholavira. A slotted stone for pillar base. Display of the extraordinary stone-working competence of the artisans of Dholavira. Professional architectural stone-working at its best. http://chandrashekharasandprints.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/kutch-and-kathiawar-a-tryst-with-history-part-v/
Port sites in Gujarat: predictive modelling
(After Fig. 5.3 and 9.4 in: Mathur, Roy, 2009, Predictiv modeling of Harappan port sites in the Gujarat Univ. of York, Dept of Archaeology, UK. http://roymathur.com/files/rmathuryork.pdf
This research attempts to develop a predictive model through the use of various software
tools with a view to identifying locational criteria related to possible Harappan age port
sites in the Gujarat region of North-West India and thus, assisting in forming a clearer
picture of maritime interaction network links both within the Gujarat as well as externally.
Interaction networks (After Kenoyer, harappa.com)
 Dholavira located on the 'Khadir bet' was an excellent strategic location for trade and commerce as well as communication for the entire Indus civilization. Excavations - Dholavira - Gallery | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Dholavira. Reservoirs are cut through stones vertically. They are about 7 meters deep and 79 meters long. Reservoirs skirted the city while citadel and bath are centrally located on raised ground.  Dholavira. Water management. http://chandrashekharasandprints.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/amazing-dholavira-part-ii/ Dholavira. Bronze/coper artefacts. Copper mirror. http://akshardhoolstories.blogspot.in/p/amazing-world-of-dholavira.html |
Dholavira2. Seal. kōnṭa corner (Nk.); tu. kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.); rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali)
aṭar ‘a splinter’ (Ma.) aṭaruka ‘to burst, crack, sli off,fly open; aṭarcca ’ splitting, a crack’; aṭarttuka ‘to split, tear off, open (an oyster) (Ma.); aḍaruni ‘to crack’ (Tu.) (DEDR 66) Rebus: aduru ‘native, unsmelted metal’ (Kannada) aduru ‘gan.iyinda tegadu karagade iruva aduru’, that is, ore taken from the mine and not subjected to melting in a furnace (Kannada). Vikalpa: sal ‘splinter’; rebus: sal ‘workshop’ (Santali) An order of men. Ex. गोसाव्यांचेअठराअखाडेआहेत.(M.)
khaḍā ‘circumscribe’ (M.); Rebs: khaḍā ‘nodule (ore), stone’ (M.)
Thus, the three glyphs together read: khaḍā 'stone ore' + aduru ‘native, unsmelted metal’ + kõdā‘to turn in a lathe’; that is, stone- and mineral-ore turner.
Dholavira1 Seal. kōnṭa corner (Nk.); tu. kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.) Rebus: kõdā‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali) sal ‘splinter’; rebus: sal ‘workshop’ (Santali) Thus, together, 'turner workshop'.
koḍa‘in arithmetic, one’ (Santali); rebus: koḍ‘artisan’s workshop’ (Kuwi)
loa ‘ficus religiosa’ (Santali) rebus: loh‘metal’ (Skt.) Rebus: lo ‘copper’. khāṇḍā ‘notch’ Marathi: खांडा [ khāṇḍā ] m A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon). Rebus: khāṇḍā ‘metal tools, pots and pans’.
kuṭi ‘woman water carrier’ (Te.); kuṭhi‘smelter furnace’ (Santali)
Thus, together, the text message reads: kõdā sal 'turner's workshop' + koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop’+ loh khāṇḍā 'copper tools, pots and pans' + kuṭhi 'smelter furnace' That is, the seal described the metalware repertoire: artisan's turner workshop for copper tools, pots and pans (with) smelter furnace.
Dholavira. Seals.
Two seals on top row showing a three-headed animal:
kõdā खोंड[ khōṇḍa ]mA young bull, a bullcalf. (Marathi) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali) mē̃ḍha ‘antelope’; krammara ‘looking back’; meḍ ‘iron’; 'merchant's helper'; kamar ‘blacksmith’ (Santali) *ḍaṅgara1 ʻ cattle ʼrebus: ḍhangar ‘blacksmith’ (Hindi) The composite animal motif is thus a professional calling card of a blacksmith + turner + merchant.
meḍ ‘body’ Rebus: meḍ ‘iron’ (Mu.) Vikalpa: kāḍ 2 काड् a man's length, the stature of a man (as a measure of length); rebus: kāḍ ‘stone’; Ga. (Oll.) kanḍ , (S.) kanḍu (pl. kanḍkil) stone
tagaraka 'tabernae montana' Rebus: tagaram 'tin' (Malayalam)
Thus, the two seals show: 1. meḍ kāḍ kamar 'Iron stone blacksmith' +kõdā 'turner' + kāḍ meḍ 'stone merchant's helper'
2. tagara kamar 'tin smith' +kõdā 'turner' + kāḍ meḍ 'stone merchant's helper'
Glyph 342 'rim of jar': kaṇḍ kanka‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karṇaka ‘scribe’; kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar’. Thus the ligatured Glyph is decoded: kaṇḍ karṇaka‘furnace scribe
G. kã̄gsī f. ʻ comb ʼ, with metath. kã̄sko m., °kī f.; WPah. khaś. kāgśī, śeu. kāśkī ʻ a comblike fern ʼ kāmsako, kāmsiyo = a large sized comb (G.) Rebus: kaṁsa= bronze (Te.) dula 'pair' Rebus dul 'cast (metal)'. Thus the composite glyph reads: dul kaṁsa 'cast bronze'.
sal ‘splinter’; rebus: sal ‘workshop’ (Santali)
kōnṭa corner (Nk.); tu. kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali)
Thus, together, the text of the inscription reads: kõdā 'turner' + dul kaṁsa 'cast bronze' +karṇaka‘scribe’, that is, cast bronze turner scribe.
Dholavira3 Seal.kõdā 'young bul' Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali) sangaḍa ‘pair’ (Marathi) Rebus: jaṅgaḍ ‘entrustment articles’.
kaṇḍ kanka ‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karṇaka ‘scribe’; kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar’. Thus the ligatured Glyph is decoded: kaṇḍ karṇaka ‘furnace scribe'
koḍa ‘in arithmetic, one’ (Santali); rebus: koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop’ (Kuwi)
kōnṭa corner (Nk.); tu. kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali)
ayo 'fish' Rebus: ayas 'iron, metal'
ḍagarf. ʻ little hill, slope ʼ (Marathi) Rebus: damgar 'merchant' (Akkadian)
keṇṭaicarp (Ta.) Rebus: kē̃ṛē̃ bell-metal, brass.
Glyph: phala ʻwhat is split' Rebus: P. N. phal ʻ blade ʼ, B. phal, °lā; Or. phaḷā ʻ bladeʼ (CDIAL 9052).
Thus the text message reads: phal 'blade' + kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ +kē̃ṛē̃ bell-metal, brass + damgar 'merchant'+ kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’+ koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop’ + karṇaka ‘furnace scribe'. The professional calling card of the artisan reads: scribe, turner, merchant (with) workshop for blade and bell-metal.
Dholavira4 Seal.
khaḍā ‘circumscribe’ (M.); Rebs: khaḍā ‘nodule (ore), stone’ (M.)
kolmo ‘paddy plant’; rebus: kolami ‘smithy’ (Te.Ka.)
ranku ‘liquid measure’; rebus: ranku ‘tin’ (Santali)
sal stake, spike, splinter, thorn, difficulty (H.); Rebus: sal ‘workshop’ (Santali)
kōnṭa corner (Nk.); tu. kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali)
Thus the message reads: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’+ khaḍā‘nodule (ore), stone’+ kolami‘smithy’+ ranku ‘tin’+ sal‘workshop’+ kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’. The professional calling card: stone-work (lapidary), smithy, turner, tin workshop,
Dholavira5 Seal with one-horned young bull + standard device.
kõdā 'young bul' Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali) sangaḍa ‘pair’ (Marathi) Rebus: jaṅgaḍ ‘entrustment articles’.
kōnṭa corner (Nk.); tu. kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali)
sal stake, spike, splinter, thorn, difficulty (H.); Rebus: sal ‘workshop’ (Santali)
khaḍā ‘circumscribe’ (M.); Rebs: khaḍā ‘nodule (ore), stone’ (M.) kolmo ‘paddy plant’; rebus: kolami ‘smithy’ (Te.Ka.)
G. kã̄gsī f. ʻ comb ʼ, with metath. kã̄sko m., °kī f.; WPah. khaś. kāgśī, śeu. kāśkī ʻ a comblike fern ʼ kāmsako, kāmsiyo = a large sized comb (G.) Rebus: kaṁsa= bronze (Te.) dula 'pair' Rebus dul 'cast (metal)'. Thus the composite glyph reads: dul kaṁsa 'cast bronze'.
ayo 'fish' Rebus: ayas 'iron, metal'
Combined glyph: khāṇḍā ‘notch’ Marathi: खांडा [ khāṇḍā ] m A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon). Rebus: khāṇḍā ‘metal tools, pots and pans’. kōnṭa corner (Nk.); tu. kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali)
kaṇḍ kanka ‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karṇaka ‘scribe’; kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar’. Thus the ligatured Glyph is decoded: kaṇḍ karṇaka ‘furnace scribe'
gaṇṭa = bat (Telugu) Rebus: kaṇḍ ‘fire-altar, furnace’ (Santali) The last glyph may be a variant of water-carrier. kuṭi ‘woman water carrier’ (Te.); kuṭhi ‘smelter furnace’ (Santali) Thus, both a furnace and a smelter are referenced.
Thus the entire text of the message reads: khaḍā kolimi stone (workshop/smithy), i.e. lapidary; workshop (with) kõdā 'lathe'.; kaṁsa 'bronze' and ayas 'alloy (metal)' khāṇḍā 'tools, pots and pans'; kaṇḍ kanka fire-altar, kuṭhi 'smelter' scribe.
Dholavira7 Seal. ḍagar f. ʻ little hill, slope ʼ (Marathi) Rebus: damgar 'merchant' (Akkadian) kāṇḍa 'arrow' khāṇḍā 'tools, pots and pans' (Marathi)
Dholavira6 Seal. One-horned young bull + standard device.
kõdā 'young bul' Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali) sangaḍa‘pair’ (Marathi) Rebus: jaṅgaḍ ‘entrustment articles’.
Glyph: potramu = snout of a hog Rebus: pot = jeweller's polishing stone (Bi.)
ḍagar f. ʻ little hill, slope ʼ (Marathi) Rebus: damgar 'merchant' (Akkadian)
kāṇḍa 'arrow' khāṇḍā 'tools, pots and pans' (Marathi)
Dholavira8 Seal. Gharial (Crocodile).
karā 'crocodile' Rebus: khār 'blacksmith' (Kashmiri)
kōnṭa corner (Nk.); kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali) sal 'splinter' Rebus: sal 'workshop'.
koḍa‘in arithmetic, one’ (Santali); rebus: koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop’ (Kuwi) khaḍā‘circumscribe’ (M.); Rebus: khaḍā‘nodule (ore), stone’ (M.) koḍ ‘horn’; koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop’ (Kuwi)
sal stake, spike, splinter, thorn, difficulty (H.); Rebus: sal ‘workshop’ (Santali)
Composite glyph with modifying elements:ḍhālako= a large metal ingot (G.) ḍālakī = a metal heated and poured into a mould; a solid piece of metal; an ingot (G.) ḍabu ‘an iron spoon’ (Santali) Rebus: ḍab, ḍhimba, ḍhompo‘lump (ingot?)’, baṭa = wide-mouthed pot; Rebus: baṭa = kiln (Te.) That is, baṭa ḍab .); Rebus: sal ‘workshop’ (Santali) Composite glyph with modifying elements reads: baṭa ḍab ḍhālako 'kiln for lump ingot, large metal ingot'.
G. kã̄gsī f. ʻ comb ʼ, with metath. kã̄sko m., °kī f.; WPah. khaś. kāgśī, śeu. kāśkī ʻ a comblike fern ʼ kāmsako, kāmsiyo = a large sized comb (G.) Rebus: kaṁsa = bronze (Telugu)
Thus, the entire text of the message on the Dholavira8 tablet reads: baṭa ḍab ḍhālako 'kiln for lump ingot, large metal ingot' (for) kaṁsa 'bronze' + koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop’ + kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’; that is, a lathe workshop.
Dholavira9 Tablet
kolmo 'three' Rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'.
kāṇḍa 'arrow' khāṇḍā 'tools, pots and pans' (Marathi)
Dholavira 10 Tablet
kāḍ 2 काड् a man's length, the stature of a man (as a measure of length); rebus: kāḍ ‘stone’; Ga. (Oll.) kanḍ , (S.) kanḍu (pl. kanḍkil) stone
kaṇḍ kanka ‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karṇaka ‘scribe’; kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar’. Thus the ligatured Glyph is decoded: kaṇḍ karṇaka ‘furnace scribe'
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Dholavira20 Seal.
kāḍ 2 काड् a man's length, the stature of a man (as a measure of length); rebus: kāḍ ‘stone’; Ga. (Oll.) kanḍ , (S.) kanḍu (pl. kanḍkil) stone. khāṇḍā ‘notch’ Marathi: खांडा [ khāṇḍā ] m A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon). Rebus: khāṇḍā ‘metal tools, pots and pans’. Thus, the composite glyph reads: kāḍ khāṇḍā 'stone tools, pots and pans'.
ḍhālako = a large metal ingot (G.) ḍālakī = a metal heated and poured into a mould; a solid piece of metal; an ingot (G.) khaḍā ‘circumscribe’ (M.); Rebus: khaḍā ‘nodule (ore), stone’ (M.) Thus, the composite glyph reads: khaḍā ḍhālako 'stone (mould) (for) large metal ingot'.
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Dholavira11 Seal.
ḍabu ‘an iron spoon’ (Santali) Rebus: ḍab, ḍhimba, ḍhompo ‘lump (ingot?)’, baṭa = wide-mouthed pot; Rebus: baṭa = kiln (Te.) That is, baṭa ḍab kiln for lump ingot.
Ku. khuṭo ʻ leg, foot ʼ, °ṭī ʻ goat's leg ʼ; N. khuṭo ʻ leg, foot ʼ(CDIAL 3894). S. khuṛī f. ʻ heel ʼ; WPah. paṅ. khūṛ ʻ foot ʼ. khura m. ʻ hoof ʼ Rebus: khũṭ ‘community, guild’ (Santali) kūṭa‘workshop’
Fig leaf ‘loa’; rebus: loh ‘(copper) metal’ kamaḍha = ficus religiosa (Skt.); kamaṭa = portable furnace for melting precious metals (Te.); kampaṭṭam = mint (Ta.)
kuṭi‘water-carrier’ (Te.); Rebus: kuṭhi‘smelter’ (Santali) kaṇḍ kanka ‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karṇaka ‘scribe’; kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar’. Thus the ligatured, composite glyph is decoded: kuṭhi kaṇḍ karṇaka ‘furnace, fire-altar scribe'.
The entire text of Dholavira11 Seal reads: kampaṭṭam 'mint' + kuṭhi kaṇḍ karṇaka ‘furnace, fire-altar scribe'+ baṭa ḍab 'kiln for lump ingot' + kūṭa ‘workshop’. That is, mint with furnace, fire-altar and ingot, engraving workshop.
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Dholavira16 Seal.
ranku 'liquid measure' Rebus: ranku 'tin' (Cassiterite)
tagaraka 'tabernae montana' Rebus: tagaram 'tin'
bhaṭa 'warrior' Rebus: baṭa = kiln (Te.)
kaṇḍ kanka ‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karṇaka‘scribe’; kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar’.
The entire message reads: ranku 'cassiterite (unfurnace)', tagaraka 'tin (furnaced)' + baṭa 'kiln' + karṇaka‘scribe’.
kaṇḍ kanka ‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karṇaka ‘scribe’; kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar’. Thus the ligatured Glyph is decoded: kaṇḍ karṇaka ‘furnace scribe'
kāḍ 2 काड् a man's length, the stature of a man (as a measure of length); rebus: kāḍ ‘stone’; Ga. (Oll.) kanḍ , (S.) kanḍu (pl. kanḍkil) stone. khāṇḍā ‘notch’ Marathi: खांडा [ khāṇḍā ] m A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon). Rebus: khāṇḍā ‘metal tools, pots and pans’. Thus, the composite glyph reads: kāḍ khāṇḍā 'stone tools, pots and pans'.
ḍhālako = a large metal ingot (G.) ḍālakī = a metal heated and poured into a mould; a solid piece of metal; an ingot (G.) khaḍā ‘circumscribe’ (M.); Rebus: khaḍā ‘nodule (ore), stone’ (M.) Thus, the composite glyph reads: khaḍā ḍhālako 'stone (mould) (for) large metal ingot'.
ḍabu ‘an iron spoon’ (Santali) Rebus: ḍab, ḍhimba, ḍhompo ‘lump (ingot?)’, baṭa = wide-mouthed pot; Rebus: baṭa = kiln (Te.) That is, baṭa ḍab kiln for lump ingot.
Ku. khuṭo ʻ leg, foot ʼ, °ṭī ʻ goat's leg ʼ; N. khuṭo ʻ leg, foot ʼ(CDIAL 3894). S. khuṛī f. ʻ heel ʼ; WPah. paṅ. khūṛ ʻ foot ʼ. khura m. ʻ hoof ʼ Rebus: khũṭ ‘community, guild’ (Santali) kūṭa‘workshop’
Fig leaf ‘loa’; rebus: loh ‘(copper) metal’ kamaḍha = ficus religiosa (Skt.); kamaṭa = portable furnace for melting precious metals (Te.); kampaṭṭam = mint (Ta.)
kuṭi‘water-carrier’ (Te.); Rebus: kuṭhi‘smelter’ (Santali) kaṇḍ kanka ‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karṇaka ‘scribe’; kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar’. Thus the ligatured, composite glyph is decoded: kuṭhi kaṇḍ karṇaka ‘furnace, fire-altar scribe'.
The entire text of Dholavira11 Seal reads: kampaṭṭam 'mint' + kuṭhi kaṇḍ karṇaka ‘furnace, fire-altar scribe'+ baṭa ḍab 'kiln for lump ingot' + kūṭa ‘workshop’. That is, mint with furnace, fire-altar and ingot, engraving workshop.
ranku 'liquid measure' Rebus: ranku 'tin' (Cassiterite)
tagaraka 'tabernae montana' Rebus: tagaram 'tin'
bhaṭa 'warrior' Rebus: baṭa = kiln (Te.)
kaṇḍ kanka ‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karṇaka‘scribe’; kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar’.
The entire message reads: ranku 'cassiterite (unfurnace)', tagaraka 'tin (furnaced)' + baṭa 'kiln' + karṇaka‘scribe’.
ranku 'liquid measure' Rebus: ranku 'tin' (Cassiterite)
tagaraka 'tabernae montana' Rebus: tagaram 'tin'
khaḍā ‘circumscribe’ (M.); Rebs: khaḍā ‘nodule (ore), stone’ (M.) ḍhālako = a large metal ingot (G.) ḍālakī = a metal heated and poured into a mould; a solid piece of metal; an ingot (G.)
dula 'two, pair' Rebus: dul 'cast (metal)'. Thus the message reads: cassiterite (unfurnace), tin (furnaced) nodule stone (ore), cast metal large ingot. Thus, the seal announces the availability of cassiterite (tin) ore and cast tin ingot.
kōnṭa corner (Nk.); tu. kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali) sal 'splinter' Rebus: sal 'workshop'.
bhaṭa‘six’; rebus: bhaṭa‘furnace’ bhaṭa‘iron’ (Gujarati)
kolmo 'paddy plant' Rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'.
Thus the entire message reads: kolimi 'smithy,forge'; bhaṭa 'iron, furnace'; kõdā sal 'turner workshop'.
kāḍ 2 काड् a man's length, the stature of a man (as a measure of length); rebus: kāḍ ‘stone’; Ga. (Oll.) kanḍ , (S.) kanḍu (pl. kanḍkil) stone
koḍa ‘in arithmetic, one’ (Santali); rebus: koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop’ (Kuwi)
खांडा [khāṇḍā] A division of a field. (Marathi)
Thus, the entire message reads: dul khāṇḍā 'cast metal tools, pots and pans' + kāḍ ‘stone’ + koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop’. It is a lapidary's workshop and a smithy forge.
Dholavira15 Seal.
ayo 'fish' Rebus: ayo 'metal' + inclined stroke: dhāḷ‘a slope’; ‘inclination of a plane’ (G.); ḍhāḷiyum = adj. sloping, inclining (G.) Rebus: ḍhālako = a large metal ingot (G.) ḍhālakī = a metal heated and poured into a mould; a solid piece of metal; an ingot (Gujarati) Thus the composite glyph reads: ayo ḍhālako 'a large alloy metal ingot'
ḍabu ‘an iron spoon’ (Santali) Rebus: ḍab, ḍhimba, ḍhompo ‘lump (ingot?)’, baṭa = wide-mouthed pot; Rebus: baṭa = kiln (Te.) That is, baṭa ḍab kiln for lump ingot.
kolmo 'three' Rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'.
kāṇḍa 'arrow' khāṇḍā 'tools, pots and pans' (Marathi)
Thus the entire message reads: khāṇḍā 'tools, pots and pans' + kolimi 'smithy, forge'+ baṭa ḍab kiln for lump ingot + yo ḍhālako 'a large alloy metal ingot'.
Dholavira17 Seal.
dula 'pair' Rebus: dul 'cast (metal)'
kamāṭhiyo = archer; kāmaṭhum = a bow; kāmaḍ, kāmaḍum = a chip of bamboo (G.) kāmaṭhiyo a bowman; an archer (Skt.lex.) Rebus: kammaṭi a coiner (Ka.); kampaṭṭam coinage, coin, mint (Ta.) kammaṭa = mint, gold furnace (Te.)
kuṭi ‘water-carrier’ (Te.); Rebus: kuṭhi ‘smelter’ (Santali)
Thus the message reads: dul 'cast (metal)' kampaṭṭam 'mint' kuṭhi ‘smelter’
Dholavira18 Seal. 'One-horned young bull'.
kõdā 'young bull' Rebus: ‘to turn in a lathe’ That is, 'lathe turner'.
L. nõ˅, khet. naũ, awāṇ. naɔ̃, Ku. nau, gng. nɔ, náva2 ʻ nine ʼ RV.Kal.rumb. nō, Kho. nyoh (whence y? -- h from Pers.? BelvalkarVol 94), Pa. nava, Pk. ṇava, Ḍ. nau, Ash. no, nū, Wg. nū̃, Pr. nū, Dm. nō̃, Tir. nāb, Paš.lauṛ. nāˊwa, ar. nāu, dar. nō, Shum. nū, Niṅg. nū̃, Woṭ. nau, Gaw. nū̃, Bshk. nab, num, Tor. nom, Kand. nāũ, Mai. naũ, Sv. nōu, Phal. nau, nū, nū̃, Sh.gil. náŭ, pales. nāũ, K. nav,nau, nam, pog. nāu, rām. kash. ḍoḍ. nau, S. nãvã, P. naũ, bhaṭ. nau, WPah.bhal. paṅ. cur. nao, N. nau, A. B. na, Or.na, naa, Bi. Mth. Aw.lakh. nau, H. nau, nam, OMarw. nova, G. nav, M. nav, naū, Ko. nav, OSi. nava, Si. namaya, Md. nuva.(CDIAL 6984). Rebus:
Thus the message reads: lo 'copper' + kuṭhi ‘smelter’.
Dholavira19 Seal.
Segment 1: blade workshop scribe
Glyph: phala ʻwhat is split' Rebus: P. N. phal ʻ blade ʼ, B. phal, °lā; Or. phaḷā ʻ bladeʼ (CDIAL 9052).
sal 'splinter' Rebus: sal 'workshop'. kaṇḍ kanka ‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karṇaka‘scribe’; kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar’. Thus the complex glyph reads: sal karṇaka 'workshop scribe'.
Segment 2: metal casting smithy scribe
kolmo 'paddy plant' Rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge' dula 'pair' Rebus: dul 'cast (metal). Together, the compound glyph reads: dul kolimi 'metal casting smithy, forge'.
kaṇḍ kanka ‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karṇaka ‘scribe’
Segment 3: cast bronze workshop scribe
sal 'splinter' Rebus: sal 'workshop'. kaṇḍ kanka ‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karṇaka ‘scribe’; kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar’. Thus the complex glyph reads: sal karṇaka 'workshop scribe'.
Ta.koṭiṟupincers.Ma.koṭiltongs.Ko.koṛhook of tongs. / Cf. Skt. (P. 4.4.18)kuṭilikā-smith's tongs.(DEDR 2052). Rebus: kuṭi ‘smelter furnace’ (Santali)kuṭila, katthīl = bronze (8 parts copper and 2 parts tin)(CDIAL 3230).
The name of the Dholavira village is koTDa. Sign 244 and variants could be a representation of a warehouse (granary) with three rows of pillars to hold storage planks to stock metal/stone artefacts. See the photos of a number of warehouses in Harappa; and of what is called a "granary room" in Mohenjodaro. These structures compare with the Sign 244. These structural remains have also been interpreted by many archaeologists as a granary.
kolmo 'three' Rebus: kolimi 'smithy'
kōṭhī f (कोष्ट S) A granary, garner, storehouse, warehouse, treasury, factory, bank. Rebus: khoṭā ʻalloyedʼ metal. Vikalpa: Glyph: phala 'gaming board' Rebus: phaḷā ʻbladeʼ (Oriya)
Sign 99
kōnṭa corner (Nk.); tu. kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali) kōṭhī 'treasury, granary' Rebus: khoṭā ʻalloyedʼ metal.
sal 'splinter' Rebus: sal 'workshop'.
kole.l 'smithy, temple'; sal 'splinter' Rebus: sal 'workshop'.
The inscription on stone reads: kole.l 'smithy'; kõdā 'lathe turner' (for) khoṭā ʻalloyedʼ metal sal 'workshop'.
The U sign infixed within Sign 242 (which becomes Sign 243), could be bat.i 'broad-mouthed, rimless metal vessel'; rebus: bat.i 'smelting furnace'. The structural form within which this sign is enclosed may represent a temple: kole.l 'temple, smithy' (Ko.);kolme smithy' (Ka.)
Thus, the ligatured Sign 243 may be read as: kolme bat.i= smithy furnace.
kole.l smithy, temple in Kota village (Ko.); kwala.l Kota smithy (To.) (DEDR 2133).
sal ‘splinter’; sal ‘workshop’ (Santali)
sal stake, spike, splinter, thorn, difficulty (H.); saḷī small thin stick; saḷiyo bar, rod, pricker (G.); śoḷ reed (Kho.)(CDIAL 12343). salleha, selleha = splinter (Ka.lex.)
சால்² cāl [K. sāl, M. cāl.] Furrow in ploughing; உழவுசால். உழுத செஞ்சால் (சீவக. 817)
kōnṭa corner (Nk.); kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tulu)Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali)
cāli 'Interlocking bodies' (IL 3872) Rebus: sal 'workshop' (Santali)
Pict-61: Composite motif of three tigers
kõdā‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali) sal ‘splinter’; sal ‘workshop’ (Santali)
kāḍ 2 काड् a man's length, the stature of a man (as a measure of length); rebus: kāḍ ‘stone’; Ga. (Oll.) kanḍ , (S.) kanḍu (pl. kanḍkil) stone
kaṇḍ kanka ‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karṇaka ‘scribe’; kaṇḍ‘furnace, fire-altar’. Thus the ligatured Glyph is decoded: kaṇḍ karṇaka‘furnace scribe'
kole.l smithy, temple in Kota village (Ko.)
Thus, the message on the seal reads: kõdā sal ‘turner's ’; kāḍ ‘stone workshop’; karṇaka‘furnace scribe'; kole.l smithy, temple.