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https://www.academia.edu/7789226/Locating_Aratta_of_Ancient_Near_East_using_Meluhha_hieroglyphs_and_defining_Anzu_and_the_start_of_Tin_Road_from_Meluhha
Locating Aratta of Ancient Near East using Meluhha hieroglyphs and defining Anzu & the start of Tin Road from Meluhha
S. Kalyanaraman, July 27,2014
Executive Summary
Aratta had Meluhhan settlers, an inference based on the hieroglyphs found on some artifacts of Jiroft. It is possible to locate Aratta – not far from Baluchistan -- close to the region in Afghanistan where lapis luzuli occurred (evidenced by Sumerian texts). Hence, this identification is consistent with the location of the Tin Road for trade in stones, minerals, metals of Bronze Age starting from Meluhha (Aratta) to Assur onwards to Kanesh. http://tinyurl.com/pqrbz5q
The Tin Road with caravans of Meluhha artisan and merchants, starts from Meluhha which is the region of Sarasvati civilization which had Meluhha speakers and bifurcates into two routes: one route across the Persian Gulf as a maritime route (evidenced by thousands of Persian Gulf seals using Meluhha hieroglyphs); and second as a land route from Aratta (Baluchistan-Afghanistan) through Assur upto Kanesh and beyond into the Fertile Crescent.
The Anzu bird in Sumerian narrative is a recollection from memory of amzu 'soma' (Vedic) which is cognate with amzu 'iron' (Tocharian). Some narratives of Ancient Near East refer to the bird as taking away the tablets of destiny. It is not a mere coincidence that the s'yena bird provides the model for a fire-altar in Vedic worship using a s'yena shaped altar. This bird, falcon, is referred to as saena in Avestan narratives.
Meluhhan dhokra kamar, experts in lost-wax technique of casting metals
Evidence of Meluhhan expertise in lost-wax casting technique comes from Shahi-Tump, Baluchistan.
The hieroglyph of leopard (cheetah) shown on the Shahi-Tump copper alloy weight, is also paralleled in the artifacts of Jiroft.
Leopards weight from Shahi-Tump (Baluchistan). "The artefact was discovered in a grave, in the Kech valley, in Balochistan, southern part of present Pakistan. It belongs to the Shahi Tump - Makran civilisation (end of 4th millennium -- beginning of 3rd millennium BCe). Ht. 200 mm. weight: 13.5 kg. The shell has been manufactured by lost-wax foundry of a copper alloy (12.6%b, 2.6%As), then it has been filled up through lead (99.5%) foundry. The shell is engraved with figures of leopards hunting wild goats, made of polished fragments of shellfishes. No identification of the artefact's use has been given. (Scientific team: B. Mille, D. Bourgarit, R. Besenval, Musee Guimet, Paris)."
Source: Mille, B., R. besenval, D. Bourgarit, Early lost-wax casting in Balochistan (Pakistan): the 'Leopards Weight' from Shahi-Tump in Persiens antike Pracht, Bergau-Handwerk-Archaologie, T. Stollner, R. Slotta, A. Vatandoust, A. ed., p. 274-80. Bouchum: Deutsches Bergbau Museum, 2004.
Mille B., D. Bourgarit, R. Besenval, 2005, Metallurgical study of the 'Leopards Weight' from Shahi-Tump (Pakistan) in South Asian Archaeology 2001, C. Jarrige, V. Lefevre, ed., p. 237-244. Paris: Editions Recherches sur les Civilisations, 2005.
Bourgarit, D., N. Taher, B. Mille & J.-P. Mohen Copper Metallurgy in the Kutch (India) during the Indus Civilization: First Results from Dholavira in South Asian Archaeology 2001, C. Jarrige, V. Lefevre, ed., p. 27-34. Paris: Editions Recherches sur les Civilisations, 2005.
Experts in lost-wax technique of copper-bronze-brass casting are dhokra kamar. This is a Meluhha phrase denoting artisans with expertise in lost-wax technique of casting metals. It has been noted that dhokra kamar is mentioned in inscriptions on a Mohenjo-daro seal and a Dholavira tablet. http://tinyurl.com/pqrbz5q
Ibexes, bushes, zebus, tigers, person fighting with cheetahs/tigers, eagles, snakes are typical Meluhha hieroglyphs which are also found in artifacts discovered in Jiroft which is a name of a sub-provincial unit (šahrestān) on the banks of Halilrud river, a town, and a dam in Kerman Province.
Jiroft is claimed by Yousef Majidzadeh to denote the remains of Aratta. Daniel T. Potts, Piotr Steinkeller link Konar Sandal near Jiroft with Marhashi that lay to the east of Elam.
Aratta associated with the Kings of Uruk – Enmerkar and Lugalbanda – is mentioned in Sumerian texts. ‘Aratta is described as follows in Sumerian literature:
· It is a fabulously wealthy place full of gold, silver, lapis lazuli and other precious materials, as well as the artisans to craft them.[1]
· It is remote and difficult to reach.
· It is home to the goddess, Inanna, who transfers her allegiance from Aratta to Uruk.
1. It is conquered by Enmerkar of Uruk… Lugalbanda befriends the Anzud bird, and asks it to help him find his army again. When Enmerkar’s army is faced with setback, Lugalbanda volunteers to return to Uruk to ask the goddess Inana's aid. He crosses through the mountains, into the flat land, from the edge to the top of Anshan and then to Uruk, where Inana helps him. She advises Enmerkar to carry off Aratta's "worked metal and metalsmiths and worked stone and stonemasons" and all the "moulds of Aratta will be his". Then the city is described as having battlements made of green lapis lazuli and bricks made of "tinstone dug out in the mountains where the cypress grows"…(Location of Aratta) Land travelers must pass through Susa and the mountainous Anshan region to reach it.
2. It is a source of, or has access to valuable gems and minerals, in particular lapis lazuli, that are crafted on site.
3. It is accessible to Uruk by watercourse, yet remote from Uruk.
4. It is close enough to march a 27th-century BC Sumerian army there.
5. A "possible reflex" has been suggested in Sanskrit Āraṭṭa or Arāṭṭa mentioned in the Mahabharata and other texts;Alternatively, the name is compared with the toponym Ararat or Urartu.
’
A fragment of a clay brick with an Elamite writing has been discovered during 2005 expedition in Jiroft.
Some claim it to be the oldest writing system, possibly earlier than the Indus writing system which is dated to c. 3500 BCE (based on a potsherd discovered in Harappa by HARP team).
Assuming that some hieroglyphs on the writing on Jiroft brick are Meluhha hieroglyphs, some readings are suggested:
Two hieroglyphs found on the Jiroft brick inscription may relate to Meluhha hieroglyphs.
ḍhāḷ = a slope; the inclination of a plane (G.) Rebus: : ḍhāḷako = a large metal ingot (G.)
kana, kanac = corner (Santali); Rebus: kan~cu = bronze (Telugu)
Meluhha hieroglyph: ‘Double-quote glyph’: 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)
ஆரம்² āram , n. < āra. 1. Spoke of a wheel. See ஆரக்கால். ஆரஞ் சூழ்ந்த வயில்வாய் நேமியொடு (சிறுபாண். 253). 2. Brass; பித்தளை. (அக.நி.)
“Archeologists believe that Jiroft was the origin of Elamite written language in which the writing system developed first and was then spread across the country and reached Susa. The discovered inscription of Jiroft is the most ancient written script found so far.” http://www.cais-soas.com/News/2006/January2006/12-01.htm
"Five Elamit professional linguists from different countries have studied the brick inscription discovered in Jiroft. According to the studies, they have concluded that this discovered inscription is 300 years older than that found in Susa; and most probably the written language went to Susa from this region. However, more studies are still needed to give a final approval to this thesis," said Yousof Majid Zadeh, head of archeological excavation team in Jiroft... Elamit language is only partly understood by scholars. It had no relationship to Sumerian, Semitic or Indo-European languages, and there are no modern descendants of it. After 3000 BC the Elamits developed a semi-pictographic writing system called Proto-Elamit. Later the cuneiform script was introduced.” http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1557568/posts
Jiroft with cold, moderate and warm climate zones is referred to as ‘Little India’. Rains which result in floods are caused by humidity originating from the Indian Ocean. The region produces both winter and summer crops.
“Jiroft sub-province. Located in the south of Kerman Province, the sub-province of Jiroft is bound by those of Kermān (north), Bam (east), ʿAnbarābād and Kahnuj (south), and Bāft (west). It is comprised of three districts (baḵš), eleven rural districts, and three towns (Darb-e Behešt, Jebāl-e Bārez, and Jiroft, which is the administrative center of the sub-province)… Jiroft is considered the most suitable region in the entire Kerman Province for agriculture. Thanks to its variant climate zones, it produces both warm and cold weather crops and has earned the nickname of “Little India” (Ṣafā, p. 3). The inhabitants of Jiroft are Twelver Shiʿites and speak a local dialect of Persian (Edāra-ye joḡrāfiāʾi, CXIX, p. 56). Several nomadic tribes, such as the Āsiābar, the Jebāl Bārezi, Solaymāni Baluč, and the Mehni do their seasonal migration within the Jiroft sub-province (Markaz-e āmār-e Irān, 1999, pp. 123-25).”
ʿAziz-Allāh Ṣafā, Tāriḵ-e Jiroft wa Kohnuj, Kerman, 1994.
Edāra-ye joḡrāfiāʾi-e arteš, Farhang-e joḡrāfiāʾi-e ābādihā-ye kešvar-e jomhuri-e eslāmi-e Irān 139 vols., Tehran, 1978-, CXV: Sabzvārān.
Markaz-e āmār-e Irān, Saršomāri-e ʿomumi-e nofus va maskan 1996: Natāyej-e tafṣili-e koll-e kešvar, Tehran, 1997.
Select Meluhha hieroglyphs from Jiroft artifacts and rebus readings:
Plate II f to k. ‘Handbag’ hieroglyphs: N. dhokro ʻ large jute bag ʼ, B. dhokaṛ; Or. dhokaṛa ʻ cloth bag ʼ; Bi. dhŏkrā ʻ jute bag ʼ; Mth. dhokṛā ʻ bag, vessel, receptacle ʼ; H. dhukṛīf. ʻ small bag ʼ; G. dhokṛũ n. ʻ bale of cotton ʼ; -- with -- ṭṭ -- : M. dhokṭī f. ʻ wallet ʼ; -- with -- n -- : G. dhokṇũ n. ʻ bale of cotton ʼ; -- with -- s -- : N. (Tarai) dhokse ʻ place covered with a mat to store rice in ʼ.2. L. dhohẽ (pl. dhūhī˜) m. ʻ large thatched shed ʼ.3. M. dhõgḍā m. ʻ coarse cloth ʼ, dhõgṭī f. ʻ wallet ʼ.4. L. ḍhok f. ʻ hut in the fields ʼ; Ku. ḍhwākā m. pl. ʻ gates of a city or market ʼ; N. ḍhokā (pl. of *ḍhoko) ʻ door ʼ; -- OMarw. ḍhokaro m. ʻ basket ʼ; -- N.ḍhokse ʻ place covered with a mat to store rice in, large basket ʼ.(CDIAL 6880) Rebus: dhokra ‘cire perdue’ casting metalsmith.
Fig. 12 j. Plate I h Hieroglyph: kol ‘tiger’ Rebus: kolhe ‘smelter’
'Woman' hieroglyph: kola 'woman' Rebus: kolhe 'smelter'.Fig. 12 e. Snake hieroglyphs: denote ‘tin’ mineral: nāgá1 m. ʻ snake ʼ ŚBr. 2. ʻ elephant ʼ BhP. [As ʻ ele- phant ʼ shortened form of *nāga -- hasta -- EWA ii 150 with lit. or extracted from nāga -- danta -- ʻ elephant tusk, ivory ʼ < ʻ snake -- shaped tusk ʼ]. 1. Pa. nāga -- m. ʻ snake ʼ, NiDoc. nāǵa F. W. Thomas AO xii 40, Pk. ṇāya -- m., Gy. as. nâ JGLS new ser. ii 259; Or. naa ʻ euphem. term for snake ʼ; Si. nay, nā, nayā ʻ snake ʼ. -- With early nasalization *nāṅga -- : Bshk. nāṅg ʻ snake ʼ. -- Kt. Pr. noṅ, Kal. nhoṅ ʻ name of a god < nāˊga -- or ← Pers. nahang NTS xv 283. 2. Pa. nāga -- m. ʻ elephant ʼ, Pk. ṇāya -- m., Si. nā. śiśunāka -- .(CDIAL 7039). నాగము [ nāgamu ] nāgamu. [Skt. from నగ a hill.] n. Lit: That which pertains to a mountain. A serpent, పాము. Particularly, a cobra. An elephant, ఏనుగు. నాకిని a female supernatural being, a goddess, దేవతాస్త్రీ. నాకులు nākulu. n. The celestials, the gods. R. v. 35. 176. నాకేశుడు nāk-ēsuḍu. n. A name of Indra. நாகர்¹ nākar, n. < nāka. Celestials; தேவர். வழுத்த வரங்கொடுப்பர் நாகர் (நான்மணி. 62).(Tamil) నాగు, నాగులు, నాగువు or నాగుబాము nāgu. n. A cobra. నాగము.(Telugu) நாகம்² nākam, n. < nāga. 1. Cobra. See நல்லபாம்பு. நன்மணியிழந்த நாகம் போன்று (மணி. 25, 195). 2. Serpent; பாம்பு. (பிங்.) ஆடுநாக மோட (கம்பரா. கலன்காண். 37).Rebus: நாகம்² nākam , n. < nāga. A prepared arsenic; பாஷாணவகை; Black lead; காரீயம். (Tamil) nāga2 n. ʻ lead ʼ Bhpr. [Cf. raṅga -- 3] Sh. naṅ m. ʻ lead ʼ (< *nāṅga -- ?), K. nāg m. (< *nāgga -- ?).(CDIAL 7040). నాగసింధూరము [ nāgasindhūramu ] nāga-sindhūramu. [Skt.] n. A red calx of lead. (Telugu) cf. anakku 'tin' (Akkadian), an alloying ore to create tin-bronzes.
Plate I c. Goat, hare hieroglyphs: mr..eka ‘goat’ (Telugu) Rebus: milakku 'copper'. kulai, 'hare' (Santali), Meluhha Rebus:kolhe ‘smelter’. kolhe, ‘the koles, are an aboriginal tribe of iron smelters speaking a language akin to that of Santals’ (Santali) kōla m. name of a tribe Hariv. Pk. kōla — m.; B.kol name of a Muṇḍā tribe (CDIAL 3532). A Bengali lexeme confirms this: কোল1 [ kōla1] an aboriginal tribe of India; a member of this tribe. (Bengali) That in an early form of Indian linguistic area, kol means ‘man’ gets substantiated by a Nahali and Assamese glosses: kola ‘woman’. See also: Wpah. Khaś.kuṛi, cur. kuḷī, cam. kǒḷā ʻ boy ʼ, Sant. Muṇḍari koṛa ʻ boy ʼ, kuṛi ʻ girl ʼ, Ho koa, kui, Kūrkū kōn, kōnjē). Prob. separate from RV. kŕ̊tā -- ʻ girl ʼ H. W. Bailey TPS 1955, 65; K. kūrü f. ʻ young girl ʼ, kash.kōṛī, ram. kuṛhī; L. kuṛā m. ʻ bridegroom ʼ, kuṛī f. ʻ girl, virgin, bride ʼ, awāṇ. kuṛī f. ʻ woman ʼ; P. kuṛī f. ʻ girl, daughter ʼ, (CDIAL 3295). कारकोळी or ळ्या [ kārakōḷī or ḷyā ] aRelating to the country कार- कोळ--a tribe of Bráhmans (Marathi).
Fig.6 a ‘zebu’ hieroglyph: khũṭ ‘zebu’. Rebus: khũṭ ‘guild, community’; adar ḍaṅgra ‘zebu or humped bull’; rebus: aduru ‘native metal’(Kannada); ḍhangar ‘blacksmith’ (Hindi) See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.com/2014/01/bronze-zebu-figurine-in-samaria-meluhha.html
Fig. 12. f ‘scorpion’ hieroglyph: bica ‘scorpion’ (Assamese); rebus: (iron) sand ore, as in bali-bica (Mu.) bica, bica-diri (Sad. bicā; Or. bicī) stone ore; meṛeḍ bica, stones containing iron; tambabica, copper-ore stones; samṛobica, stones containing gold (Mundari)
Fig. 12c ‘Eagle’ hieroglyph: eruvai 'eagle' Rebus: eruvai 'copper'.
The vivid use of hieroglyphs is seen on many cylinder seals of Ancient Near East and seals/tablets of Indus writing --= the corpora number about 7000 Meluhha epigraphs detailed in Philosophy of symbolic forms in Meluhha ciper and Meluhha, a visible language.
