kolom 'three' Rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'

http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/08/indus-script-meluhha-words-for-alloy.htmlThis note suggests three glosses for this Proto-Prakritam or Meluhha Lexis: 

alloy: भरत bharat; 

bronze: कुटिल kuṭila, katthīl; 

zinc (pewter): sattva.  

The lexis entry for bronze is signified by the hieroglyph 'curve' or 'right parenthesis':

 Doubling of this signifies dula 'pair' rebus: dul 'cast metal'. Thus doubling of the right parenthesis results in a hieroglyph-multiplex as shown on the elephant copper plate inscription m1486 text

 This hieroglyph-multiplex is thus read as: kuṭilika'bent, curved' dula 'pair' rebus: kuṭila, katthīl = bronze (8 parts copper and 2 parts tin)

 The 'curve' hieroglyph is a splitting of the ellipse. kuṭila ‘bent’ CDIAL 3230 kuṭi— in cmpd. ‘curve’, kuṭika— ‘bent’ MBh. 

Rebus: kuṭila, katthīl = bronze (8 parts copper and 2 parts tin) cf. āra-kūṭa, 'brass'  Old English ār 'brass, copper, bronze' Old Norse eir 'brass, copper', German ehern 'brassy, bronzen'. kastīra n. ʻ tin ʼ lex. 2. *kastilla -- .1. H. kathīr m. ʻ tin, pewter ʼ; G. kathīr n. ʻ pewter ʼ.2. H. (Bhoj.?) kathīl, °lā m. ʻ tin, pewter ʼ; M. kathīl n. ʻ tin ʼ, kathlẽ n. ʻ large tin vessel ʼ.(CDIAL 2984)

Hieroglyphs: कौटिलिकः kauṭilikḥ कौटिलिकः 1 A hunter.-2 A blacksmith. कौटिलिक [p= 315,2] m. (fr. कुटिलिका Pa1n2. 4-4 , 18) " deceiving the hunter [or the deer Sch.] by particular movements " , a deer [" a hunter " Sch.] Ka1s3. f. ( Pa1n2. 4-4 , 18) कुटिलिका crouching , coming stealthily (like a hunter on his prey ; a particular movement on the stage) Vikr. कुटिलिक " using the tool called कुटिलिका " , a blacksmith ib. कुटिलक [p= 288,2] f. a tool used by a blacksmith Pa1n2. 4-4 , 18 Ka1s3.mfn. bent , curved , crisped Pan5cat.

Thus, the inscription as metalwork catalogue reads: cast metal smithy, metal implements, copper & metal alloys, smithy/forge artisan's workshop, mint.

Annex I

http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/08/indus-script-meluhha-words-for-alloy.html

Indus Script Meluhha words for alloy, bronze, zinc (pewter): भरत bharat 'alloy'कुटिल kuṭila, katthīl (8 parts copper, 2 parts tin), sattva 'zinc (pewter)'

Mirror: http://tinyurl.com/nmfwvnv

Now that the Indus Script Corpora has reached the size of a significant statistical data set of about 7000 inscriptions, deploying variables of over 600 hieroglyph-multiplexes (hypertexts of 500 signs with ligatures PLUS 100 multiplexed pictorial motifs), a reasonable deduction -- falsifiable by cryptography and statistical analyses -- can be made on the lexis of Meluhha (Proto-Prakritam) which was the language or vernacular of Indian sprachbund signified for cipher of the inscriptions. 

Lexis, the vocabulary of Meluhha or Proto-Prakritam, is principally related to metalwork, since the Meluhha inscriptions are all catalogus catalogorum of metalwork. The metalwork catalogue lexis has over 1500 words in homophone (similar-sounding speech) sets of 750 pairs of words, since some components of hieroglyph-multiplexes are signified by allographs [i.e. hieroglyphs signified by distinct 'image' words as for e.g.: ibha 'elephant' karibha 'trunk of elephant' both read rebus: karba 'iron'(Tulu)].

From this structural evidential framework, it should be possible to reconstruct the morphology, syntax and semantics of Proto-Prakritam or Meluhha.

This note suggests three glosses for this Proto-Prakritam or Meluhha Lexis: 

alloy: भरत bharat; 

bronze: कुटिल kuṭila, katthīl; 

zinc (pewter): sattva.  

The suggested entries of the Lexis are based on rebus-metonymy renderings signified by hieroglyph-multiplexes of Indus Script Corpora.

There are 200 copper plate inscriptions in Indus Script Corpora. One set  (demonstrated by Asko Parpola as B19 categor illustrated below) had 'hunter' hieroglyph PLUS text with 7 hieroglyph-multiplexes (as hypertexts). Rebus-metonymy rendering of the cipher in Proto-Prakritam was shown as: कौटिलिकः kauṭilikḥ कौटिलिकः A hunter.-Rebus: A blacksmith.

http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/08/indus-script-corpora-cipher-hypertexts.html

This expression कौटिलिकः kauṭilikḥ, 'blacksmith' has the root kuṭila 'bronze' and hence, the expression should more precisely be signified semantically as 'bronze worker'.

B19 copper plate epigraph: hunter-blacksmith: कौटिलिकः kauṭilikḥ कौटिलिकः 1 A hunter.-2 A blacksmith. कौटिलिक [p= 315,2] m. (fr. कुटिलिका Pa1n2. 4-4 , 18) " deceiving the hunter [or the deer Sch.] by particular movements " , a deer [" a hunter " Sch.] Ka1s3. f. ( Pa1n2. 4-4 , 18) कुटिलिका crouching , coming stealthily (like a hunter on his prey ; a particular movement on the stage) Vikr. कुटिलिक " using the tool called कुटिलिका " , a blacksmith ib. कुटिलक [p= 288,2] f. a tool used by a blacksmith Pa1n2. 4-4 , 18 Ka1s3.mfn. bent , curved , crisped Pan5cat.

kamaṭh a crab (Skt.) kamāṭhiyo=archer;kāmaṭhum =a bow; kāmaḍī ,kāmaḍum=a chip of bamboo (G.) kāmaṭhiyo bowman; an archer(Skt.lex.) kamaṛkom= fig leaf (Santali.lex.)kamarmaṛā(Has.), kamaṛkom(Nag.); the petiole or stalk of a leaf (Mundari.lex.)kamaṭha= fig leaf, religiosa(Skt.) dula‘tw' Rebus: dul 'cast metal ’Thus, cast loh ‘copper casting’ infurnace:baṭa= wide-mouthed pot; baṭa= kiln (Te.) kammaṭa=portable furnace(Te.) kampaṭṭam 'coiner,mint' (Tamil) kammaṭa (Malayalam)

Same inscription as on B19 sets of copper plates appears on C6 sets of copper plates but with a distinct hieroglyph-multiplex of ficus PLUS crab (pincers, tongs) on the obverse of the copper plate.

C6 copper plate epigraph: ficus PLUS pincers: metalsmith: लोह--कार [p= 908,3] m. a worker in iron , smith , blacksmith R. Hit. Hieroglyph component: loa 'ficus glomerata' Rebus: loha 'copper, iron' Hieroglyph component: kāru pincers, tongs. Rebus: khār खार् । लोहकारः 'blacksmith' (Kashmiri)

Since loha  signifies 'copper' and kammaTa signifies 'mint' this hieroglyph multiplex on the obverse of C6 set of copper plate inscriptions (ficus PLUS crab+pincers) should more precisely signify semantically: mint-master, coppersmith.

The text of the epigraph common to both sets of copper plates (B16, hunter and C9 ficus+crab/pincers) has hieroglyph-multiplexes

 Inscription message: Supercargo bronze cast metal, ingots (of different shapes), metal implements smithy/forge On C9 set of copper plates, these come from लोहकारः lohakAra kammaTa the mint-master, coppersmith's workshop. On B16 set of copper plates, these come from कौटिलिकः kauṭilikḥ bronze worker's (smithy/forge). 

  mū̃h ‘ingot’ (Santali) PLUS (infixed) kolom 'sprout, rice plant' Rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge' Thus, ingot smithy 

Notes: dula 'pair' Rebus: dul 'cast metal' Ellipse is split into two curves of parenthesis:  (  ) Thus, dula 'cast metal' signified by the curves joined into an ellipse. 

  mū̃h ‘ingot’ (Santali) dula 'pair' Rebus: dul 'cast metal' Thus, cast metal ingot.

dhollu 'drummer' (Western Pahari) Rebus: dul 'cast metal' 

kola 'tiger' Rebus: kolle 'blacksmith' kol 'working in iron' 

kolimi 'smithy, forge' j̈asta, dasta 'five' (Kafiri) jasta, sattva 'zinc'

dula ‘pair’ Rebus: dul ‘cast (metal)’ PLUS kana, kanac = corner (Santali); Rebus: kañcu = bronze (Telugu) Thus, cast bronze or bronze casting.

This is a hieroglyph-multiplex: slant PLUS notch: DhAL 'slanted' Rebus: DhALako 'large ingot' PLUS खांडा (p. 202) [ khāṇḍā ] A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon). Rebus: Rebus: kāṇḍa ‘tools, pots and pans and metal-ware’ (Marathi) khaṇḍa id. (Santali)

  kolom 'rice-plant, sprout' Rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'

  goṭ 'seed, rounded object' Rebus: खोट (p. 212) [ khōṭa ] f A mass of metal (unwrought or of old metal melted down); an ingot or wedge (Marathi)

 The 'curve' hieroglyph is a splitting of the ellipse. kuṭila ‘bent’ CDIAL 3230 kuṭi— in cmpd. ‘curve’, kuṭika— ‘bent’ MBh. 

Rebus: kuṭila, katthīl = bronze (8 parts copper and 2 parts tin) cf. āra-kūṭa, 'brass'  Old English ār 'brass, copper, bronze' Old Norse eir 'brass, copper', German ehern 'brassy, bronzen'. kastīra n. ʻ tin ʼ lex. 2. *kastilla -- .1. H. kathīr m. ʻ tin, pewter ʼ; G. kathīr n. ʻ pewter ʼ.2. H. (Bhoj.?) kathīl, °lā m. ʻ tin, pewter ʼ; M. kathīl n. ʻ tin ʼ, kathlẽ n. ʻ large tin vessel ʼ.(CDIAL 2984)

kaṇḍa kanka ‘rim of jar’ Rebus: karṇīka ‘account (scribe)’karṇī‘supercargo’.
kaṇḍa ‘fire-altar’. Alternative: kanka 'rim of jar' rebus: kanga 'brazier'.

Zinc (Pewter)

jastaʿh, Pewter, Pl. يْ ey. جس jas, s.m. (6th) Pewter. Sing. and Pl. See also HI جست jast, s.m. (6th) Pewter. Sing. and Pl.(Pashto) These glosses are cognate with jasta 'zinc' (Hindi)  svastika pewter (Kannada); jasta = zinc (Hindi) yasada (Jaina Prakritam)

hasta 'hand' (Rigveda); Kafiri. *dasta -- < *j̈asta -- is a Meluhha homonym. The semantics 'hand' and 'five' are meanings signified by hath, ath ʻ hand, five ʼ(Gypsy). Thus, it is reasonably deduced that Proto-Prakritam (Meluhha) jasta signified numeral 'five'.

Zinc had its own hieroglyph. It was shown on two Mohenjo-daro seals now in British Museum.

Faience button seal (H99-3814/8756-01) with swastika motif found on the floor of Room 202 (Trench 43).Slide 315 harappa.com

See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2014/09/indus-writing-mlecchita-vikalpa-meluhha.html

Video on semantics and orthography of Svastika hieroglyph:  http://youtu.be/jRjpJsZvNo8  (4:06) Zinc was alloyed with other mineral ores to create hard alloys. Svastika hieroglyph also denoted zinc in Meluhha: sattva which also meant the alloy 'pewter'. Archaeological evidence shows condensation retorts to produce zinc metal. A demonstration of Bronze Age competence in smelting and creating alloys.

Svastika hieroglyph was also shown on a Mohenjo-daro seal m1225 with inscriptions on two sides:

m1225a Side b: ‘svastika’ hieroglyph: Rebus: jasta, sattva , satthiya, zasath ‘zinc’

PLUS ‘four’ strokes:

|||| Numeral 4: gaṇḍa 'four' Rebus: kaṇḍa 'furnace, fire-altar' (Santali) PLUS |koḍa ‘one’ Rebus: koḍ ‘workshop’  Thus, zinc fire-altar, workshop

भरत bharat 'alloy' 

bhāraṇ = to bring out from a kiln (G.)  bāraṇiyo = one whose profession it is to sift ashes or dust in a goldsmith’s workshop (G.lex.) In the Punjab, the mixed alloys were generally called, bharat (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin). In Bengal, an alloy called bharan or toul was created by adding some brass or zinc into pure bronze. bharata = casting metals in moulds; bharavum = to fill in; to put in; to pour into (G.lex.) Bengali. ভরন [ bharana ] n an inferior metal obtained from an alloy of coper, zinc and tin. baran, bharat ‘mixed alloys’ (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin) (Punjabi)

‘Backbone, spine’ hieroglyph: baraḍo = spine; backbone; the back; baraḍo thābaḍavo = lit. to strike on the backbone or back; hence, to encourage; baraḍo bhāre thato = lit. to have a painful backbone, i.e. to do something which will call for a severe beating (Gujarati)bārṇe, bāraṇe = an offering of food to a demon; a meal after fasting, a breakfast (Tulu) barada, barda, birada = a vow (Gujarati)bharaḍo a devotee of S’iva; a man of the bharaḍā caste in the bra_hman.as (Gujarati) baraṛ = name of a caste of jat- around Bhaṭiṇḍa; bararaṇḍā melā = a special fair held in spring (Punjabi) bharāḍ = a religious service or entertainment performed by a bharāḍi_; consisting of singing the praises of some idol or god with playing on the d.aur (drum) and dancing; an order of aṭharā akhād.e = 18 gosāyi_ group; bharād. and bhāratī are two of the 18 orders of gosāyi_ (Marathi).

Side a: balad m. ʻox ʼ, gng. bald, (Ku.) barad, id. (Nepali. Tarai) Rebus: bharat (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin)(Punjabi) pattar ‘trough’ Rebus: pattar ‘guild, goldsmith’. Thus, copper-zinc-tin alloy (worker) guild.

m1225a Side b: ‘svastika’ hieroglyph: Rebus: jasta, sattva , satthiya,zasath ‘zinc’PLUS ‘four’ strokes:
|||| Numeral 4: gaṇḍa ‘four’

Rebus: kaṇḍa ‘furnace, fire-altar’ (Santali) PLUS | koḍa‘one’ Rebus:koḍ ‘workshop’ Thus, zinc fire-altar, workshop

Side a: balad m. ʻox ʼ, gng. bald, (Ku.) barad, id. (Nepali. Tarai) Rebus:bharat (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin)(Punjabi) pattar ‘trough’ Rebus: pattar ‘guild, goldsmith’. Thus, copper-zinc-tin alloy (worker) guild.

kanac ‘corner’ Rebus: kañcu ‘bronze’ (Telugu) dula ‘two’ Rebus: dul‘cast metal’ kolom ‘three’ Rebus: kolami ‘smithy, forge’ Numeral ||dula ‘two’ Rebus: dul ‘cast metal’ Numeral III kolom ‘three’ Rebus:kolami ‘smithy, forge’

kuṭila ‘bent’ CDIAL 3230 kuṭi— in cmpd. ‘curve’, kuṭika— ‘bent’ MBh. Rebus:

Rebus: kuṭila, katthīl = bronze (8 parts copper and 2 parts tin) kastīra n. ʻtinʼ lex.H. kathīr m. ʻtin, pewterʼ; G. kathīr n. ʻpewterʼ.2. H. (Bhoj.?) kathīl, °lā m. ʻtin, pewterʼ; M. kathīl n. ʻtinʼ, kathlẽ n. ʻlarge tin vesselʼ(CDIAL 2984)  

dula दुल । युग्मम् m. a pair, a couple, esp. of two similar things (Rām. 966) (Kashmiri); dol ‘likeness, picture, form’ (Santali) Rebus: dul ‘to cast metal in a mould’ (Santali) dul meṛeḍ cast iron (Mundari. Santali)
‘cast bronze’; it is a glyptic formed of a pair of brackets (): kuṭila ‘bent’; rebus: kuṭila, katthīl = bronze (8 parts copper and 2 parts tin)

 kana, kanac = corner (Santali); kañcu = bronze (Te.) dula ‘two’ Rebus: dul ‘cast metal’

dula ‘pair’ Rebus: dul ‘cast (metal)’ PLUS kana, kanac = corner (Santali); Rebus: kañcu = bronze (Telugu) Thus, cast bronze or bronze casting.

See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.com/2014/09/indus-script-meluhha-metalwork.html

Ligature: crab, claws

Sign 36: kāṭi 'body stature; Rebus: fireplace trench. Thus, furnace for metals in mint + kamaḍha ‘crab’ Rebus: kammaṭa ‘mint, coiner’. ḍato = claws of crab (Santali) Rebus: dhātu ‘mineral ore’. Thus mineral ore mint, coiner.

Archer. Ligature one bow-and-arrow hieroglyph

kamaḍha ‘archer, bow’ Rebus: kammaṭa ‘mint, coiner’. + kāṭi 'body stature; Rebus: fireplace trench. Thus, furnace for metals in mint.

Ligatures: Worshipper + rimless pot + scarf (on pigtail)

Signs 45, 46: A variant of ‘adorant’ hieroglyph sign is shown with a ‘rimless, broad-mouthed pot’ which is baṭa read rebus: bhaṭa ‘furnace’. If the ‘pot’ ligature is a phonetic determinant, the gloss for the ‘adorant’ is bhaṭa ‘worshipper’. If the ‘kneeling’ posture is the key hieroglyphic representation, the gloss is eragu ‘bow’ Rebus: erako ‘moltencast copper’. Thus moltencast copper furnace. + dhaṭu m. (also dhaṭhu) m. ‘scarf’ (Western Pahari) (CDIAL 6707) Rebus: dhatu ‘minerals’ (Santali). Thus Sign 46 read rebus: moltencast copper minerals furnace.

Hieroglyphs: backbone (Allographs of 'ox' barad signifying bharata alloy)

This pictorial motif gets normalized in Indus writing system as a hieroglyph sign: baraḍo = spine; backbone (Tulu) Rebus:baran, bharat ‘mixed alloys’ (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin) (Punjabi) Tir. mar — kaṇḍḗ ʻ back (of the body) ʼ; S. kaṇḍo m. ʻ back ʼ, L. kaṇḍ f., kaṇḍām. ʻ backbone ʼ, awāṇ. kaṇḍ, °ḍī ʻ back ʼH. kã̄ṭā m. ʻ spine ʼ, G. kã̄ṭɔm., M. kã̄ṭā m.; Pk. kaṁḍa — m. ʻ backbone ʼ.(CDIAL 2670) Rebus:kaṇḍ ‘fire-altar’ (Santali) The hieroglyph ligature to convey the semantics of ‘bone’ and rebus reading is: ‘four short numeral strokes ligature’ |||| Numeral 4: gaṇḍa ‘four’ Rebus: kaṇḍa‘furnace, fire-altar’ (Santali)

baraḍo = spine; backbone (Tulu) Rebus: baran, bharat ‘mixed alloys’ (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin) (Punjabi) PLUS gaṇḍa 'four' Rebus: kaṇḍa 'furnace, fire-altar' (Santali)

Seal published by Omananda Saraswati. In Pl. 275: Omananda Saraswati 1975. Ancient Seals of Haryana (in Hindi). Rohtak.

भरत (p. 603) [ bharata ] n A factitious metal compounded of copper, pewter, tin &c.भरताचें भांडें (p. 603) [ bharatācē mbhāṇḍēṃ ] n A vessel made of the metal भरत. 2 See भरिताचें भांडें.भरती (p. 603) [ bharatī ] aComposed of the metal भरत. (Molesworth Marathi Dictionary).

bharatiyo = a caster of metals; a brazier; bharatar, bharatal, bharataḷ= moulded; an article made in a mould; bharata = casting metals in moulds; bharavum = to fill in; to put in; to pour into (Gujarati) bhart= a mixed metal of copper and lead;bhartīyā = a brazier, worker in metal; bhaṭ, bhrāṣṭra = oven, furnace (Sanskrit.)

Repeating svastika hieroglyph five times on a seal: தட்டல் taṭṭal Five, a slang term; ஐந்து என்பதன் குழூஉக்குறி. (J.) The Tamil gloss  taṭṭal denotes five in slang (vernacular or Proto-Prakritam, Meluhha)

தட்டு¹-தல் taṭṭu-To obstruct, hinder, ward off; தடுத்தல். தகையினாற் காறட்டி வீழ்க்கும் (கலித். 97, 17) Tu. taḍè hindrance, obstacle Ma. taṭa resistance, warding off (as with a shield), what impedes, resists, stays, or stops, a prop Ka. taḍa impeding, check, impediment, obstacle, delay(DEDR 3031)

Ta. taṭṭi screen as of cuscuss grass, rattan, etc., tatty; taṭṭu screen folded or plain;taṭukku screen, mat, seat. Ma. taṭṭi screen, tatty, mat used as a door; taṭukku little mat for sitting on, as of school children. Ka. taṭṭi frame of bamboos, etc., a tatti, matting, bamboo mat; taḍaku, taḍike frame of bamboos, straw, leaves, etc., used as a door, blind, screen, etc., tatty; daḍḍi tatty, screen, curtain, what screens or encloses, cage; flat roof of a house. Tu. taṭṭi screen or blind made of split bamboos, cadjan, palm-leaves, etc.; daḍèscreen, blind; taḍamè a kind of stile or narrow entrance to a garden. Kor. (O.) taḍambe a gate. Te. taḍaka hurdle or tatty, screen made of bamboos, etc.; daḍi screen of mats, leaves or the like, fence. Kol. (SR.) taḍkā plaited bamboos, thatch; (Kin.) taṛka mat; (W.) daṭam door Pali taṭṭikā- palmleaf matting; Pkt. (DNM) ṭaṭṭī- fence; Turner, CDIAL, no. 5990 (DEDR 3036)1. Pa. taṭṭikā -- f. ʻ mat ʼ, taṭṭaka -- m. ʻ flat bowl ʼ; Pk. taṭṭī -- f. ʻ hedge ʼ, ṭaṭṭī -- , °ṭiā -- f. ʻ screen, curtain ʼ; K. ṭāṭh, dat. °ṭas m. ʻ sackcloth ʼ; S. ṭaṭī f. ʻ Hindu bier ʼ; L. traṭṭī f. ʻ screen ʼ; P. taraṭṭī, ṭaṭṭī f. ʻ bamboo matting, screen ʼ(CDIAL 5990)

*ṭhaṭṭh ʻ strike ʼ. [Onom.?]N. ṭhaṭāunu ʻ to strike, beat ʼ, ṭhaṭāi ʻ striking ʼ, ṭhaṭāk -- ṭhuṭuk ʻ noise of beating ʼ; H.ṭhaṭhānā ʻ to beat ʼ, ṭhaṭhāī f. ʻ noise of beating ʼ.(CDIAL 5490)

Ta. taṭam road, way, path, route, gate, footstep. Ir. (Bhattacharya 1958; Z.) daḍḍa road.  Ko. daṛv path, way.(DEDR 3014)

Rebus readings:

தட்டான்¹ taṭṭāṉ, n. < தட்டு-. [M. taṭṭān.] Gold or silver smith, one of 18 kuṭimakkaḷ, q. v.; பொற்கொல்லன். (திவா.) Te. taṭravã̄ḍu goldsmith or silversmith. Cf. Turner,CDIAL, no. 5490, *ṭhaṭṭh- to strike; no. 5493, *ṭhaṭṭhakāra- brassworker; √ taḍ, no. 5748, tāˊḍa- a blow; no. 5752, tāḍáyati strikes.

*ṭhaṭṭha ʻ brass ʼ. [Onom. from noise of hammering brass? -- N. ṭhaṭṭar ʻ an alloy of copper and bell metal ʼ. *ṭhaṭṭhakāra ʻ brass worker ʼ. 2. *ṭhaṭṭhakara -- 1. Pk. ṭhaṭṭhāra -- m., K. ṭhö̃ṭhur m., S. ṭhã̄ṭhāro m., P. ṭhaṭhiār, °rā m.2. P. ludh. ṭhaṭherā m., Ku. ṭhaṭhero m., N. ṭhaṭero, Bi. ṭhaṭherā, Mth. ṭhaṭheri, H. ṭhaṭherā m.(CDIAL 5491, 5493)

Tatta1 [pp. of tapati] heated, hot, glowing; of metals: in a melted state (cp. uttatta) Aii.122≈(tattena talena osiñcante, as punishment); Dh 308 (ayoguḷa); J ii.352 (id.); iv.306 (tattatapo "of red -- hot heat," i. e. in severe self -- torture); Miln 26, 45 (adv. red -- hot); PvA 221 (tatta -- lohasecanaŋ the pouring over of glowing copper, one of the punishments in Niraya).(Pali)

தட்டுமுட்டு taṭṭu-muṭṭu, n. Redupl. of தட்டு² [T. M. Tu. taṭṭumuṭṭu.] 1. Furniture, goods and chattels, articles of various kinds; வீட்டுச்சாமான்கள். தட்டுமுட்டு விற்று மாற்றாது (பணவிடு. 225). 2. Apparatus, tools, instruments, utensils; கருவி கள். 3. Luggage, baggage; மூட்டைகள். (W.)Ta. taṭṭumuṭṭu furniture, goods and chattels, utensils, luggage. Ma. taṭṭumuṭṭu kitchen utensils, household stuff. Tu. taṭṭimuṭṭu id.(DEDR 3041)

A hieroglyph which is repeatedly deployed in Indus writing is svastika. What is the ancient reading and meaning?

Sphalerite or zinc sulfide

அஞ்சுவர்ணத்தோன் añcu-varṇattōṉ, n. < id. +. Zinc; 

துத்தநாகம். (R.) அஞ்சுவண்ணம் añcu-vaṇṇam, n. < அஞ்சு +. A trade guild; ஒருசார் வணிகர் குழு. (T. A. S. ii, 69.) அஞ்சுபஞ்சலத்தார் añcu-pañcalattār

, n. < அஞ்சு + பஞ்சாளத்தார். Pañca-kammāḷar, the five artisan classes; பஞ்சகம்மாளர். (I. M. P. Cg. 371.)

Its color is usually yellow, brown, or gray to gray-black, and it may be shiny or dull. Itsluster is adamantine, resinous to submetallic for high iron varieties. It has a yellow or light brown streak, a Mohs hardness of 3.5–4, and a specific gravity of 3.9–4.1. Some specimens have a red iridescence within the gray-black crystals; these are called "ruby sphalerite." The pale yellow and red varieties have very little iron and are translucent. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphalerite 

I suggest that it reads sattva. Its rebus rendering and meaning is zastas 'spelter or sphalerite or sulphate of zinc.'

Zinc occurs in sphalerite, or sulphate of zinc in five colours.

The Meluhha gloss for 'five' is: taṭṭal Homonym is: ṭhaṭṭha ʻbrassʼ(i.e. alloy of copper + zinc).

Glosses for zinc are: sattu (Tamil), satta, sattva (Kannada) jasth जस्थ । त्रपु m. (sg. dat. jastas जस्तस्), zinc, spelter; pewter; zasath ज़स््थ् or zasuth ज़सुथ् । त्रपु m. (sg. dat. zastas ज़स्तस्), zinc, spelter, pewter (cf. Hindī jast). 
jastuvu; । त्रपूद्भवः adj. (f. jastüvü), made of zinc or pewter.(Kashmiri).

Hence the hieroglyph: svastika repeated five times. Five svastika are thus read: taṭṭal sattva Rebus:  zinc (for) brass (or pewter).See five svastika on Mohenjodaro prism tablet (m488)

 

The text inscription on the tablet reads: cast bronze supercargo. It is notable that sphalerite can also be of high iron varieties and hence, the use of ibha 'elephant' Rebus: ib 'iron' together with svastika on a Mohenjodaro tablet.

Hence, the gloss to denote sulphate of zinc: తుత్తము [ tuttamu ] or తుత్తరము tuttamu. [Tel.] n. Vitriol. పాకతుత్తము white vitriol, sulphate of zinc. మైలతుత్తము sulphate of copper, blue-stone. తుత్తినాగము [ tuttināgamu ] tutti-nāgamu. [Chinese.] n. Pewter. Zinc. లోహవిశేషము.துத்தம்² tuttam, n. < tuttha. 1. A prepared arsenic, vitriol, sulphate of zinc or copper; வைப்புப்பாஷாணவகை. (சூடா.) 2. Tutty, blue or white vitriol used as collyrium; கண் மருந்தாக உதவும் துரிசு. (தைலவ. தைல. 69.)

சத்து³ cattu, n. prob. šilā-jatu. 1. A variety of gypsum; கர்ப்பூரசிலாசத்து. (சங். அக.) 2. Sulphate of zinc; துத்தம். (பைஷஜ. 86.)

See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2014/09/meluhha-hieroglyph-5-svastika-read.html

(a) Ta. koṭu curved, bent, crooked; koṭumai crookedness, obliquity; koṭukki hooked bar for fastening doors, clasp of an ornament; koṭuṅ-kāycucumber; koṭuṅ-kai folded arm; koṭu-maram bow; koṭu-vāy curved or bent edge (as of billhook); koṭu-vāḷ pruning knife, billhook, sickle, battle-axe; kuṭacurved, bent; kuṭakkam bend, curve, crookedness; kuṭakki that which is crooked; kuṭakkiyaṉ humpback; kuṭaṅku (kuṭaṅki-) to bend (intr.); kuṭaṅkai palm of hand; kuṭantai curve; kuṭavu (kuṭavi-) to be crooked, bent, curved; n. bend, curve; kuṭā bend, curve; kōṭu (kōṭi-) to bend, be crooked, go astray, be biased;n. crookedness, obliquity; kōṭal bending, curving; kōṭi bend, curve; kōṭṭam bend, curve, warp, partiality, crookedness (as of mind); kōṭṭu (kōṭṭi-) to bend (tr.); ṭoṅku crookedness. Ma. koṭuṅ-kai bent arm; koṭu-vāḷ hatchet, large splitting knife; kōṭuka to be crooked, twisted, awry, warp (of wood); kōṭṭuka to bend(tr.); kōṭṭam crookedness, distortion; kōṭṭal what is crooked, turn, way of escape. Ko. koṛy crick in neck from sleeping crooked or lifting heavy burden. To.kwïṛ fo·&lstroketod; billhook; kwïṛ magoy elbow; kw&idieresisside;ṛ curve (in: kwa·ṛ xw&idieresisside;ṛ fïs̱ rainbow, lit. curved bow of the monsoon).Ka. kuḍu, kuḍa, kuḍi state of being crooked, bent, hooked, or tortuous; ḍoṅku to bend, be crooked; ḍoṅku, ḍoṅka state of being bent, curved, crooked; crookedness, a bend, a curve. Koḍ. koṭṭï katti billhook. Tu. guḍke a crooked man; ḍoṅků, ḍoṅku crookedness; crooked, curved, perverse; ḍoṅkelůcrookedness; (B-K.) daṅgāvu to bend, incline. Te. koḍavali, (VPK) koḍali, koḍēli, koḍvali sickle; gōḍi-vaḍu to bend (intr.); gōḍi-veṭṭu id. (tr.); ḍoṅkucurvature; ḍoṅkena a sort of spear with a bent or curved head. Kol. koḍval (pl. koḍvasil), (Kin.) koṛva sickle; (Pat., p. 119) koṭe false. Nk. koṛval sickle. Pa.kũḍaŋgey elbow; koḍka billhook. Ga. (Oll.) konḍke id. Go. (G.) kunamkay, (Ma.) kunaŋkay, (Ko.) kunagay elbow (Voc. 755); (LuS.) koondakaiyoo id.; (ASu.) kōr- to bend in dancing. Konḍa koṛveli sickle. Kui konḍoṛi, konḍoni bent, winding, zigzag; kōnḍa (kōnḍi-) to curl, be curly, bent, twisted; gōṭoṛi,(P.) gōṭoni hooked, bent like a hook. Kuwi (P.2) ḍong- (-it-), (Isr.) ḍōṅg- (-it-) to be bent, crooked; (P.2) ḍok- (-h-), (Isr.) ḍōk- (-h-) to bend (elbow, wrist, finger); (Su. Isr.) ḍoveli, (F.) dō'velli (pl. dōvelka) sickle; (S.) doweli knife. Br. kōnḍō on all fours, bent double. Initial ḍ of some forms is < *kḍ- (*kḍoṅg-, *kḍōk-; *kḍoveli < koḍavali); ? cf. also 2983 Kol. toŋge. / Cf. Mar. ḍõgā curved, bent. 

(b) Ta. kōṭi corner. Ma. kōṭi, kōṭu id. Ko. ko·ṇḍ a bend; ko·ṇṭ gi·r rainbow (ki·r line). To. kw&idieresisside;ṭy direction (in songs). Ka. gōṭu angle, corner, point of the compass, edge; gōṇṭu corner, etc., point of the compass. Tu. kōḍi corner; kōṇṭu angle, corner, crook. Nk. kōnṭa corner. Pa. kō̃ṭa id. Go. (G.)kōnṭa corner (Voc. 969). (DEDR 2054)

hásta m. ʻ hand ʼ RV., ʻ forearm as measure of length ʼ VarBr̥S. Pa. hattha -- m. ʻ hand, forearm ʼ, NiDoc. hasta, loc. sg. astaṁmi, Dhp. hasta -- , Pk. hattha -- m.; Gy. eur. vast m. ʻ hand ʼ (v -- from *ov ast), arm. hath, ath ʻ hand, five ʼ, pal. ḫăst ʻ hand ʼ, pers. xat ʻ hand, arm ʼ; Ḍ. h*lt ʻ hand ʼ, (Kaf. *dasta -- < *j̈asta -- ) Ash. dost, dus, Wg. dōšt, Kt. dušt, Pr. lust, Dm. daš, Tir. āst, Paš.lauṛ. hāst, gul. nir. hōst, chil. āstu -- m ʻ my hand ʼ, shut. ōst, kuṛ. ōs (aste -- m), ar. ōast; Niṅg. wōst ʻ arm ʼ (w -- extended to names of parts of body fromwōr ʻ belly ʼ < udara -- as in wō̃c̣ ʻ shoulder ʼ < akṣa -- 1 or upākṣa -- 1 and wō̃c̣ ʻ eye ʼ < ákṣi -- or upākṣa -- 2? Cf. Eng. (child's language) larm, lear, leye afterleg, lip); Gmb. dōš ʻ hand ʼ, Shum. aste -- m, Gaw. hast (hāth ʻ forearm ʼ ← Ind.), Kal.urt. hast, rumb. has (st. hast -- ); Kho. host ʻ hand, arm, cubit ʼ; Tor.h*ltth m. ʻ hand ʼ, Kand. hath, Mai. hā, ky. hã̄ (obl. hātha); Sv. hatha ʻ hand, arm ʼ, Phal. hāt f. (ā hāth ʻ one cubit i.e. from elbow to finger tip ʼ); Sh.gil. hăt m. ʻ hand, cubit ʼ, koh. gur. jij. hăth m., pales. hatth; K. atha, dat. athas m. ʻ hand, forearm ʼ, rām. ḍoḍ. hatth, pog. āht; S. hathu m. ʻ hand ʼ, L. P. hatth m., WPah.bhad. bhal. paṅ. hatth, cur. hatt, pāḍ. hat, (Joshi) hāth m.; Ku. hāth ʻ hand, arm, cubit ʼ; N. hāt ʻ hand, forarm ʼ; A. hāt ʻ hand, cubit ʼ; B. hāt ʻ arm ʼ, Or.hāta; Bi. Mth. Bhoj. hāth ʻ hand, forearm, cubit ʼ; Aw.lakh. hã̄th m. hand ʼ; H. Marw. G. hāth m. ʻ hand, arm, cubit ʼ, M. hāt m.; Ko. hātu ʻ hand ʼ; Si. at -- a ʻ hand, elephant's trunk ʼ, hat ʻ cubit ʼ (allanavā ʻ to seize ʼ < at la°); Md. at, ai ʻ hand ʼ. -- Ext. -- ḍ -- (semant. cf. hastaka -- ): Ap. hattaḍa -- m. ʻ hand ʼ; Bi.hathṛā, hathrā ʻ handle of grindstone ʼ; Mth. hāthar ʻ handle of grindstone ʼ, hathrā ʻ do. of millstone ʼ; -- -- l -- : H. hathal m., hathlī f. ʻ handle ʼ. -- See Add.hastaka -- , hastāhasti, hastín -- , hástiya -- , hástya -- , hāˊsta -- ; *hastakarman -- , *hastakāra -- , *hastakūˊṭa -- , hastatala -- , *hastadhara -- , *hastapānīya -- , *hastapāśa -- , *hastavāśī -- , *hastavr̥tta -- , *hastavr̥tti -- , hastasaṁjñā -- , hastāmalaka -- ; galahasta -- , *duhasta -- , *dvāhasta -- , nírhasta -- , *parahasta -- , *parihasta -- , *vaḍrahasta -- .Addenda: hásta -- : WPah.kṭg. hátth, kc. hāth m. ʻ hand ʼ, J. also hātth, Garh. hāth, hāt m.(CDIAL 14024)

कुटिल [ kuṭila ] a (S) Crooked or bent. 

kuṭa2, °ṭi -- , °ṭha -- 3, °ṭhi -- m. ʻ tree ʼ lex., °ṭaka -- m. ʻ a kind of tree ʼ Kauś.

Pk. kuḍa -- m. ʻ tree ʼ; Paš. lauṛ. kuṛāˊ ʻ tree ʼ, dar. kaṛék ʻ tree, oak ʼ ~ Par. kōṛ ʻ stick ʼ IIFL iii 3, 98.(CDIAL 3228)

Copper plate m1457 The set of hieroglyphs deciphered as: 1. zinc-pewter and 2. bronze:1. jasta, sattva and 2. kuṭila

Hieroglyph: sattva 'svastika hieroglyph'; j̈asta, dasta 'five' (Kafiri) Rebus: jasta, sattva 'zinc'

Hieroglyph: kuṛuk 'coil' Rebus: kuṭila, katthīl = bronze (8 parts copper and 2 parts tin) cf. āra-kūṭa, 'brass'  Old English ār 'brass, copper, bronze' Old Norse eir 'brass, copper', German ehern 'brassy, bronzen'. kastīra n. ʻ tin ʼ lex. 2. *kastilla -- .1. H. kathīr m. ʻ tin, pewter ʼ; G. kathīr n. ʻ pewter ʼ.2. H. (Bhoj.?) kathīl, °lā m. ʻ tin, pewter ʼ; M. kathīl n. ʻ tin ʼ, kathlẽ n. ʻ large tin vessel ʼ.(CDIAL 2984) 

Hieroglyph: kuṭi in cmpd. ʻ curve ʼ, kuṭika -- ʻ bent ʼ MBh. [√kuṭ1]
Ext. in H. kuṛuk f. ʻ coil of string or rope ʼ; M. kuḍċā m. ʻ palm contracted and hollowed ʼ, kuḍapṇẽ ʻ to curl over, crisp, contract ʼ. (CDIAL 3230)

kuṭilá ʻ bent, crooked ʼ KātyŚr., °aka -- Pañcat., n. ʻ a partic. plant ʼ lex. [√kuṭ1]
Pa. kuṭila -- ʻ bent ʼ, n. ʻ bend ʼ; Pk. kuḍila -- ʻ crooked ʼ, °illa -- ʻ humpbacked ʼ, °illaya -- ʻ bent ʼ(CDIAL 3231) kauṭilya n. ʻ crookedness ʼ Pāṇ., ʻ falsehood ʼ Pañcat. 2. *kauṭiliya -- . [kuṭilá -- ]

1. Pa. kōṭilla -- n. ʻ crookedness ʼ; Pk. kōḍilla -- m. ʻ backbiter ʼ.2. Pa. kōṭilya -- n. ʻ crookedness ʼ; Si. keḷilla, st. °ili<-> ʻ bending of the knees ʼ, °illen in̆dinavā ʻ to squat ʼ.(CDIAL 3557)

Priest of dhā̆vaḍ 'iron-smelters' with Indus script hieroglyphs signifies पोतृ,'purifier' of dhāū, dhāv 'red stone minerals' 

Hieroglyphs: dām 'garland, rope': Rebus 1: dhamma 'dharma' (Pali); Rebus 2: dhamaga'blacksmith'; dhmātṛ 'smelter'

Hieroglyphs: hangi, 'mollusc' tied to a fish: ayira 'fish' Rebus; ariya, ayira 'person of noble character'. 

Hieroglyphs: hangi 'mollusc' + dām 'rope, garland' dã̄u m. ʻtyingʼ; puci 'tail' Rebus: puja 'worship'

Rebus: ariya sanghika dhamma puja 'veneration of arya sangha dharma'.

m1356, m443 tablet 

Hieroglyph: मेढा [ mēḍhā ] 'a curl or snarl; twist in thread' (Marathi) .L. meṛh f. ʻrope tying oxen to each other'. 

मेढा [ mēḍhā ] A twist or tangle arising in thread or cord, a curl or snarl.(Marathi) mer.ha = twisted, crumpled, as a horn (Santali.lex.) meli, melika = a turn, a twist, a loop, entanglement; meliyu, melivad.u, meligonu = to get twisted or entwined (Telugu)) [Note the endless knot motif]. Rebus: med. ‘iron’ (Mu.) sattva 'svastika glyph' Rebus: sattva, jasta 'zinc'.

The 'endless knot' hieroglyph on m1457 Copper plate of Mohenjo-daro has also orthographic variants of a twisted string.

See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2014/04/ant-twisted-rope-and-other-meluhha.html

The 'endless knot' hieroglyph can be interpreted as composed of two related semantics: 1. strand of rope or string; 2. twist or curl

Twisted rope as hieroglyph:

dhāˊtu *strand of rope ʼ (cf. tridhāˊtu -- ʻ threefold ʼ RV., ayugdhātu -- ʻ having an uneven number of strands ʼ KātyŚr.)  S. dhāī f. ʻ wisp of fibres added from time to time to a rope that is being twisted ʼ, L. dhāī˜ f.(CDIAL 6773 ) Rebus: dhāˊtu n. ʻ substance ʼ RV., m. ʻ element ʼ MBh., ʻ metal, mineral, ore (esp. of a red colour) ʼ Mn.Pk. dhāu -- m. ʻ metal, red chalk ʼ; N. dhāu ʻ ore (esp. of copper) ʼ; Or. ḍhāu ʻ red chalk, red ochre ʼ (whence ḍhāuā ʻ reddish ʼ; M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron -- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ)(CDIAL 6773).

dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron -- smelters ʼ

The suffix -vaḍ is relatable to the semantics of vaTam ‘string’.(as may be seen in the expressions in vogue in Tamil) Thus, dhā̆vaḍ can be elaborated as a compound made of dhA PLUS vaTam, i.e. layers of minerals or elements in the smelting process.

அணிவடம் aṇi-vaṭam

, n. < அணி- +. Ornamental string of jewels, necklace; கழுத்திலணியுமாலை.

அரைவடம் arai-vaṭam

, n. < id. +. String of beads round the waist, worn by little children; அரைச்சதங்கை. அரைவடங்கள்கட்டி (திருப்பு. 2).

ஈர்வடம்īr-vaṭam

, n. < ஈர்³ +. Rope made of the ribs of the palmyra leaf; பனையீர்க்குக்கயிறு. (J.)

ஏகவடம்ēka-vaṭam

, n. < id. +. Necklace of a single string. See ஏகாவலி. பொங்கிளநாகமொரேகவடத்தோடு (தேவா. 350, 7)

கால்வடம் kāl-vaṭam

, n. < கால்¹ +. Foot- ornament strung with pearls; காலணிவகை. திருக்கால்வடமொன்றிற்கோத்த (S.I.I. ii, 397, 205).

சபவடம் capa-vaṭam

, n. < சபம்¹ +. String of beads for keeping count in prayer, rosary; செபமாலை. சபவடமும்வெண்ணூல்மார்பும் (திருவாலவா. 27, 51).

தாழ்வடம் tāḻ-vaṭam

, n. < id. +. 1. [M. tāḻvaṭam.] Necklace of pearls or beads; கழுத்தணி. தாவிறாழ்வடம்தயங்க (சீவக. 2426).

தேர்வடம் tēr-vaṭam

, n. < id. +. Cable, thick rope for drawing a car; தேரிழுத்தற்குரியபெரியகயிற்றுவடம். மணலையுமேவுதேர்வடமாக்கலாம் (அருட்பா, vi, வயித்திய. 4).

வடம்¹ vaṭam
, n. < vaṭa. 1. Cable, large rope, as for drawing a temple-car; கனமானகயிறு. வடமற்றது (நன். 219, மயிலை.). 2. Cord; தாம்பு. (சூடா.) 3. A loop of coir rope, used for climbing palm-trees; மரமேறவுதவுங்கயிறு. Loc. 4. Bowstring; வில்லின்நாணி. (பிங்.) 5. String of jewels; மணிவடம். வடங்கள்அசையும்படிஉடுத்து (திருமுரு. 204, உரை). (சூடா.) 6. Strands of a garland; chains of a necklace; சரம். இடைமங்கைகொங்கைவடமலைய (அஷ்டப். திருவேங்கடத்தந். 39). 7. Arrangement; ஒழுங்கு. தொடங்கற்காலைவடம்படவிளங்கும் (ஞானா. 14, 41). 

Mohenjo-daro. m1457 Copper plate with 'twist' hieroglyph. Mohejodaro, tablet in bas relief (M-478) The first hieroglyph-multiplex on the left (twisted rope): 

m478a tablet

கோலம்¹ kōlam, n. [T. kōlamu, K. kōla, M. kōlam.] 1. Beauty, gracefulness, hand- someness; அழகு. கோலத் தனிக்கொம்பர் (திருக் கோ. 45). 2. Colour; நிறம். கார்க்கோல மேனி யானை (கம்பரா. கும்பக. 154). 3. Form, shape, external or general appearance; உருவம். மானுடக் கோலம். 4. Nature; தன்மை. 5. Costume; appropriate dress; attire, as worn by actors; trappings; equipment; habiliment; வேடம். உள்வரிக் கோலத்து (சிலப். 5, 216). 6. Ornament, as jewelry; ஆபரணம். குறங்கிணை திரண்டன கோலம் பொறாஅ (சிலப். 30, 18). 7. Adornment, decoration, embellishment; அலங்காரம். புறஞ்சுவர் கோலஞ்செய்து (திவ். திருமாலை, 6). 8. Ornamental figures drawn on floor, wall or sacrificial pots with rice-flour, white stone-powder, etc.; மா, கற்பொடி முதலியவற்றாலிடுங் கோலம். தரை மெழுகிக் கோலமிட்டு (குமர. மீனாட். குறம். 25). 

The hieroglyphs on m478a tablet are read rebus:

kuTi 'tree'Rebus: kuThi 'smelter'

bhaTa 'worshipper' Rebus: bhaTa 'furnace' baTa 'iron' (Gujarati) This hieroglyph is a phonetic deterinant of the 'rimless pot': baṭa = rimless pot (Kannada) Rebus: baṭa = a kind of iron (Gujarati) bhaṭa 'a furnace'.  Hence, the hieroglyph-multiplex of an adorant with rimless pot signifies: 'iron furnace' bhaTa. 

bAraNe ' an offering of food to a demon' (Tulu) Rebus: baran, bharat (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin) (Punjabi. Bengali) The narrative of a worshipper offering to a tree is thus interpretable as a smelting of three minerals: copper, zinc and tin.

Numeral four: gaNDa 'four' Rebus: kand 'fire-altar'; Four 'ones': koḍa ‘one’ (Santali) Rebus: koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop'. Thus, the pair of 'four linear strokes PLUS rimless pot' signifies: 'fire-altar (in) artisan's wrkshop'. 

Circumscript of two linear strokes for 'body' hieroglyph: dula 'pair' Rebus: dul 'cast metal' koḍa ‘one’(Santali) Rebus: koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop'. Thus, the circumscript signifies 'cast metal workshop'. meD 'body' Rebus: meD 'iron'.

khareḍo = a currycomb (G.) Rebus: kharādī ‘turner’ (Gujarati)

The hieroglyph may be a variant of a twisted rope.

dhāu 'rope' rebus: dhāu 'metal' PLUS  मेढा [ mēḍhā ] 'a curl or snarl; twist in thread' rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ ‘iron’. Thus, metallic ore.

kōlam, n. [T. kōlamu, K. kōla, M. kōlam.]  'ornamental figure' Rebus: kol 'working in iron'

The inscription on m478 thus signifies, reading hieroglyphs from r.: 

Tree: kuThi 'smelter'

Worshipper: bhaTa 'furnace' 

Four linear strokes + rimless pot: kanda baTa 'fire-altar for iron'

Circumscript two linear strokes + body: meD koDa 'metal workshop'

Currycomb:khareḍo 'currycomb' rebus: kharādī ‘turner’; dhāu 'metal' 

PLUS mẽṛhẽt, meḍ ‘iron’; kol 'working in iron'. Together, the two hieroglyphs 

signify metalworker, ironsmith turner.

m0478b tablet

erga = act of clearing jungle (Kui) [Note image showing two men carrying 

uprooted trees] thwarted by a person in the middle with outstretched hands

Aḍaru twig; aḍiri small and thin branch of a tree; aḍari small branches (Ka.); aḍaru twig (Tu.)(DEDR 67). Aḍar = splinter (Santali); rebus: aduru = native metal (Ka.) Vikalpa: kūtī = bunch of twigs (Skt.) Rebus: kuṭhi = furnace (Santali) ḍhaṁkhara — m.n. ʻbranch without leaves or fruitʼ (Prakrit) (CDIAL 5524)

Hieroglyph: era female, applied to women only, and generally as a mark of respect, wife; hopon era a daughter; era hopon a man’s family; manjhi era the village chief’s wife; gosae era a female Santal deity; bud.hi era an old woman; era uru wife and children; nabi era a prophetess; diku era a Hindu woman (Santali)

•Rebus: er-r-a = red; eraka = copper (Ka.) erka = ekke (Tbh. of arka) aka (Tbh. of arka) copper (metal); crystal (Ka.lex.) erako molten cast (Tu.lex.)  agasa_le, agasa_li, agasa_lava_d.u = a goldsmith (Te.lex.)

kuTi 'tree' Rebus: kuṭhi = (smelter) furnace (Santali) 

heraka = spy (Skt.); eraka, hero = a messenger; a spy (Gujarati); er to look at or for (Pkt.); er uk- to play 'peeping tom' (Ko.) Rebus: erka = ekke (Tbh. of arka) aka (Tbh. of arka) copper (metal); crystal (Ka.lex.) cf. eruvai = copper (Ta.lex.) eraka, er-aka = any metal infusion (Ka.Tu.) eraka ‘copper’ (Kannada) 

kōṭu  branch of tree, Rebus: खोट [ khōṭa ] f A mass of metal (unwrought or of old metal melted down); an ingot or wedge. 

Hieroglyph: Looking back: krammara 'look back' (Telugu) kamar 'smith, artisan' (Santali)

kola ‘tiger, jackal’ (Kon.); rebus: kol working in iron, blacksmith, ‘alloy of five metals, panchaloha’ (Tamil) kol ‘furnace, forge’ (Kuwi) kolami ‘smithy’ (Telugu) 

^  Inverted V, m478 (lid above rim of narrow-necked jar) The rimmed jar next to the tiger with turned head has a lid. Lid ‘ad.aren’; rebus: aduru ‘native metal’ karnika 'rim of jar' Rebus: karni 'supercargo' (Marathi) Thus, together, the jar with lid composite hieroglyhph denotes 'native metal supercargo'. karn.aka = handle of a vessel; ka_n.a_, kanna_ = rim, edge; kan.t.u = rim of a vessel; kan.t.ud.iyo = a small earthen vessel; kan.d.a kanka = rim of a water-pot; kan:kha, kankha = rim of a vessel; Alternative: kanka 'rim of jar' rebus: kanga 'brazier'.

Comparable hieroglyph of kneeling adorant with outstretched hands occurs on a Mohenjo-daro seal m1186, m478A tablet and on Harappa tablet h177B:

Rebus readings: maṇḍa ‘ some sort of framework (?) ʼ. [In nau - maṇḍḗ n. du. ʻ the two sets of poles rising from the thwarts or the two bamboo covers of a boat (?) ʼ ŚBr. Rebus: M. mã̄ḍ m. ʻ array of instruments &c. ʼ; Si. maḍa -- ya ʻ adornment, ornament ʼ. (CDIAL 9736) kamaḍha 'penance' (Pkt.)Rebus: kampaṭṭam 'mint' (Tamil) battuḍu. n. A worshipper (Telugu) Rebus: pattar merchants (Tamil), perh. Vartaka (Skt.)

m1186 seal. kaula— m. ‘worshipper of Śakti according to left—hand ritual’, khōla—3 ‘lame’; Khot. kūra— ‘crooked’ BSOS ix 72 and poss. Sk. kōra— m. ‘movable joint’ Suśr.] Ash. kṓlƏ ‘curved, crooked’; Dm. kōla ‘crooked’, Tir. kṓolƏ; Paš. kōlā́ ‘curved, crooked’, Shum. kolā́ṇṭa; Kho. koli ‘crooked’, (Lor.) also ‘lefthand, left’; Bshk. kōl ‘crooked’; Phal. kūulo; Sh. kōlu̯ ‘curved, crooked’ (CDIAL 3533). 

Rebus: kol ‘pancaloha’ (Tamil)

bhaTa 'worshipper' Rebus: bhaTa 'furnace' baTa 'iron' (Gujarati)

saman 'make an offering (Santali) samanon 'gold' (Santali)

minDAl 'markhor' (Torwali) meDho 'ram' (Gujarati)(CDIAL 10120) Rebus: me~Rhet, meD 'iron' (Mu.Ho.Santali)

heraka 'spy' (Samskritam) Rebus:eraka 'molten metal, copper'

maNDa 'branch, twig' (Telugu) Rebus: maNDA 'warehouse, workshop' (Konkani)\karibha, jata kola Rebus: karba, ib, jasta, 'iron, zinc, metal (alloy of five metals)

maNDi 'kneeling position' Rebus: mADa 'shrine; mandil 'temple' (Santali)

dhatu 'scarf' Rebus: dhatu 'mineral ore' (Santali)

The rice plant adorning the curved horn of the person (woman?) with the pig-tail is kolmo; read rebus, kolme ‘smithy’. Smithy of what? Kol ‘pancaloha’. The curving horn is: kod.u = horn; rebus: kod. artisan’s workshop (Kuwi)

The long curving horns may also connote a ram on h177B tablet:

h177B4316 Pict-115: From R.—a person standing under an ornamental arch; a kneeling adorant; a ram with long curving horns.

The ram read rebus: me~d. ‘iron’; glyph: me_n.d.ha ram; min.d.a_l markhor (Tor.); meh ram (H.); mei wild goat (WPah.) me~r.hwa_ a bullock with curved horns like a ram’s (Bi.) me~r.a_, me~d.a_ ram with curling horns (H.)

https://kalyan97.wordpress.com/2007/06/29/mleccha-written-read-rebus/

Ganweriwala tablet. Ganeriwala or Ganweriwala (Urdu: گنےریوالا‎ Punjabi: گنیریوالا) is a Sarasvati-Sindhu civilization site in Cholistan, Punjab, Pakistan.

Glyphs on a broken molded tablet, Ganweriwala. The reverse includes the 'rim-of-jar' glyph in a 3-glyph text. Observe shows a  person seated on a stool and a kneeling adorant below.

Hieroglyph: kamadha 'penance' Rebus: kammata 'coiner, mint'.

Reading rebus three glyphs of text on Ganweriwala tablet: brass-worker, scribe, turner:

1. kuṭila ‘bent’; rebus: kuṭila, katthīl = bronze (8 parts copper and 2 parts tin) [cf. āra-kūṭa, ‘brass’ (Skt.) (CDIAL 3230) 

2. Glyph of ‘rim of jar’: kárṇaka m. ʻ projection on the side of a vessel, handle ʼ ŚBr. [kárṇa -- ]Pa. kaṇṇaka -- ʻ having ears or corners ʼ; (CDIAL 2831) kaṇḍa kanka; Rebus: furnace account (scribe). kaṇḍ = fire-altar (Santali); kan = copper (Tamil) khanaka m. one who digs , digger , excavator Rebus: karanikamu. Clerkship: the office of a Karanam or clerk. (Telugu) káraṇa n. ʻ act, deed ʼ RV. [√kr̥1] Pa. karaṇa -- n. ʻdoingʼ; NiDoc. karana,  kaṁraṁna ʻworkʼ; Pk. karaṇa -- n. ʻinstrumentʼ(CDIAL 2790)

Alternative: kanka 'rim of jar' rebus: kanga 'brazier'.

3. khareḍo = a currycomb (G.) Rebus: kharādī ‘ turner’ (G.) 

See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2013/07/witzels-breath-taking-announcement-of.html 

Hieroglyph: मेढा [mēḍhā] A twist or tangle arising in thread or cord, a curl or snarl (Marathi). Rebus: meḍ 'iron, copper' (Munda. Slavic) mẽṛhẽt, meD 'iron' (Mu.Ho.Santali)

meď 'copper' (Slovak)

Santali glosses:

Wilhelm von Hevesy wrote about the Finno-Ugric-Munda kinship, like "Munda-Magyar-Maori, an Indian link between the antipodes new tracks of Hungarian origins" and "Finnisch-Ugrisches aus Indien". (DRIEM, George van: Languages of the Himalayas: an ethnolinguistic handbook. 1997. p.161-162.) Sumerian-Ural-Altaic language affinities have been noted. Given the presence of Meluhha settlements in Sumer, some Meluhha glosses might have been adapted in these languages. One etyma cluster refers to 'iron' exemplified by meD (Ho.). The alternative suggestion for the origin of the gloss med 'copper' in Uralic languages may be explained by the word meD (Ho.) of Munda family of Meluhha language stream:

Sa. <i>mE~R~hE~'d</i> `iron'.  ! <i>mE~RhE~d</i>(M).

Ma. <i>mErhE'd</i> `iron'.

Mu. <i>mERE'd</i> `iron'.

  ~ <i>mE~R~E~'d</i> `iron'.  ! <i>mENhEd</i>(M).

Ho <i>meD</i> `iron'.

Bj. <i>merhd</i>(Hunter) `iron'.

KW <i>mENhEd</i>

@(V168,M080)

http://www.ling.hawaii.edu/austroasiatic/AA/Munda/ETYM/Pinnow&Munda

— Slavic glosses for 'copper'

Мед [Med]Bulgarian

Bakar Bosnian

Медзь [medz']Belarusian

Měď Czech

Bakar Croatian

KòperKashubian

Бакар [Bakar]Macedonian

Miedź Polish

Медь [Med']Russian

Meď Slovak

BakerSlovenian

Бакар [Bakar]Serbian

Мідь [mid'] Ukrainian[unquote]

http://www.vanderkrogt.net/elements/element.php?sym=Cu 

Miedź, med' (Northern Slavic, Altaic) 'copper'.  

One suggestion is that corruptions from the German "Schmied", "Geschmeide" = jewelry. Schmied, a smith (of tin, gold, silver, or other metal)(German) result in med ‘copper’.

See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/08/svastika-indus-script-hieroglyph.html On decipherment of svastika hieroglyph as satthiya ‘svastika glyph’; rebus: satthiya ‘zinc’, jasta ‘zinc’ (Kashmiri.Hindi), satva, ‘zinc’ (Prakritam) svastika pewter (Kannada); yasada id.(Jaina Pkt.)

 The āyāgapaṭṭa Jaina homage tablet is now in the Lucknow Museum. 

 http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/a/largeimage58906.html

Hieroglyphs on āyāgapaṭṭa अयागपट्ट: from L. two fishes dula 'two' rebus: dul 'cast metal' aya 'fish' rebus: aya 'metal, alloy'; puccha 'fish-tail' rebus: puja 'worship'; rope tying molluscs and fish aya 'fish' rebus: aya 'meta, alloy' dām 'rope' rebus: ध्मातृ dhmātṛ 'smelter', dhamaga 'blacksmith' (Prakritam); s'ankha 'conch' rebus: sanga 'community, guild'. sangi 'mollusc', Rebus: sangi 'pilgrim'.

The word दामा dāmā 'string' evokes the metalwork of the smelters using bellows: ध्मातृ m. a blower , smelter or melter (of metal) Rigveda RV. v , 9 , 5 Sukta appended. A derived etymon is dhamaga 'blacksmith' (Prakritam).
Hieroglyph: दामा dāmā A string, cord. (Samskritam) தாமம்¹ tāmam, n. dāman. Rope, cord, string; கயிறு. (பிங்.) Wreath, flower garland, chaplet, especially worn on shoulders.

Rebus: N. dhāu ʻ ore (esp. of copper) ʼ; Or. ḍhāu ʻ red chalk, red ochre ʼ (whence ḍhāuā ʻ reddish ʼ; M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron -- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ)

Zinc ore, sphalerite is referred to as black and hence may signify zinc sulphide ZnS. The 'endless knot' hieroglyph of Indus Script Corpora can be read as: dhāu sattva, jasta ore PLUS 'zinc', or zinc ore. It is notable that zinc occurs commonly as mineral sphalerite. This mineral is usually black because of various impurities, the pure material is white, and it is widely used as a pigment.

PS: A note on ancient rope-making with two/three strands

Three rope-makers working in the marshes making a two strand rope.

Above the labourers are depicted the tools of their trade, a bundle of raw material, and four finished coils of rope.The same three-men technique was still in use in the 20th century CE

Tomb of Ti Quibell 1896, Pl.32

At times a worker would tie the rope around his waist using the weight of his body to keep the rope taught, freeing his hands for manipulating it.Source: Maude 1862, p.375

Fragment of papyrus rope, Late Period, length: 42 cm, diameter: 9 cm

Cordage was occasionally made by braiding three strands of material together, but the main manufacturing technique consisted in twisting two or more yarns of the same thickness individually in the same direction and then combining the strands by twisting them together in the opposite direction. The resulting cord could be twisted together with similar chords to form a rope of even greater girth. The ends of twisted rope were tied up to keep them from unravelling. The finished rope was beaten with a wooden implement or brushed
Three-strand twisted natural fibre rope  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rope
See: Thomas R., Tengberg M., Moulhérat C., Marcon V. & Besenval R.  – 2012. Analysis of a Protohistoric net from Shahi Tump, Baluchistan (Pakistan).Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 4 (1) : 15-23.

See: http://www.mae.u-paris10.fr/arscan/IMG/article_PDF/article_a1412.pdf

See: https://www.academia.edu/2557263/A_Late_Neolithic_fishing_net_from_Kurdistan_Northern_Iraq

dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron -- smelters ʼ

The suffix -vaḍ is relatable to the semantics of vaTam ‘string’.(as may be seen in the expressions in vogue in Tamil) Thus, dhā̆vaḍ can be elaborated as a compound made of dhA PLUS vaTam, i.e. layers of minerals or elements in the smelting process.

S. Kalyanaraman

Sarasvati Research Center

November 23, 2015