Three rebus readings, related to metalwork cataloguing in mints, are signified by hypertext -- Dotted circle -- on Indus Script Corpora:
1. पोतदार, 'metal assayer'; 2. kammata 'mint' and 3. dhāvaḍa 'iron smelter'.
Note on Indian Linguistic Area or Indian sprachbund, 'language union'. I can only posit a hypothesis (without indicating directions of borrowing vis-a-vis Dravidian, Munda & Indo-Aryan) that the word kāṇa'one-eyed or blind' is the root word which yields kaṇ'eye' (DEDR 1159) read with DEDR 1143 entries: Kur. xannā to be pleasant to the eye, be of good effect, suit well. Br. xaning to see. This hypothesis is premised on the large number of eye-related rebus representations -- to signify mint work -- across a wide area in Eurasia (presented in this monograph). While the word khambhat is explained as a semantic expansion of the skambha 'pillar' related words, the skambha as a ketu 'proclamation' of Soma yajna (Binjor, Anupgarh evidence of eight-cornered Skambha and 19 yupa inscriptions of historical periods describing bahusuvarNaka Soma Samstha yajna-s ), the word khambhat can also be seen as a cognate of kammaṭa 'mint'. The Tamil lexicon entry is emphatic which indicates it as a cognate of kammaṭa 'mint'; could khambhat also signify 'mint' associated with skambha (used to infuse godhuma carbon fumes into molten metal to harden the alloy metal in the fire-altar, furnace?) :
கண்வட்டம் kaṇ-vaṭṭam , n. < id. +. 1. Range of vision, eye-sweep, full reach of one's observation; கண்பார்வைக்குட்பட்ட இடம். தங்கள் கண்வட்டத்திலே உண்டுடுத்துத்திரிகிற (ஈடு, 3, 5, 2). 2. Mint; நாணயசாலை. கண்வட்டக்கள்ளன் (ஈடு.).. I submit that this is one vivid example of Indian sprachbund where language family streams interacted with one another, absorbed language features and made them their own. Who knows, which Dravidian language family artisan borrowed from which Indo-Aryan language family artisan, as the languages evolved to document metallurgical innovations? I submit that, we have to rethink and re-affirm the nature of Indian linguistic area of the Sarasvati Civilization mature period, based on the overwhelming evidence provided by over 8000 inscriptions. We may end up reaffiring the essential cultural unity of Indian language families from the periods of Tin-Bronze Revolution and domesticated agriculture, together with village janapada settlements of balutedar and alutedar of a shared commonwealth nation.
One reading pota'bead' rebus: पोतृ 'purifier', पोतदार pōtadāra, 'assayer of metal' signifies a metalworker.
Second reading Hieroglyphs: kāṇam + vṛtta 'one-eyed + circle' = kāṇa 'weight' or kaṇa 'piece of dust, particle' + vaṭṭa 'circle' rebus:'wealth + business' rebus: kammata'mint' also signifies metalwork in a mint. This reading explains why a one-eyed woman is shown battling leaping tigers: kāṇa'one-eyed' + vaṭṭa 'circle' rebus: kammata 'mint' PLUS dula 'pair' rebus: dul 'metal casting' PLUS kola 'tiger' rebus:kol'working in iron', kolhe'smelter', kole.l'smithy, forge'. A one-eyed woman is shown battling leaping tigers: kāṇa'one-eyed' + vaṭṭa 'circle' rebus: kammata 'mint' PLUS Leaping pair of tigers: kūrda m. ʻ jump ʼ, gūrda -- m. ʻ jump ʼ Kāṭh. [√
Third reading: The trefoil composed of three dotted circles or tri-dhātu'three mineral ores' (magnetite, haematite, laterite -- three ferrite ores) yields a semantic determinative of the expression धावड dhāvaḍa'iron smelter'.
Thus, all three rebus readings are valid ciphertext renderings -- 1. पोतदार, 'metal assayer'; 2. kammata 'mint' and 3. dhāvaḍa 'iron smelter'.
THese three rebus renderings get represented in sculptures across Eurasia as seen in the images presented in the Annex: Images of dotted circles, eyes on artifacts from cultures across Eurasia.
Seated male sculpture from Mohenjo-daro1. When used as a fillet on the forehead and right shoulder of the Mohenjo-daro priest, what does the dotted circle signify? H. pot m. ʻ glass bead ʼ, G. M. pot f.(CDIAL 8403) + Pkt. (DNM; Norman) dāra- waist-band, girdle; (CDIAL 6225) = पोतदार pōtadāra m ( P) An officer to assay all money paid into the treasury. He was also the village-silversmith.पोतृ 'purifier'यज्ञस्य शोधयिट्रि (RV)
2. When dotted circles embellish the portable furnace -- bottom register -- of standard device, top portion signifying kunda 'lathe' rebus: konda 'fire-altar' kundan 'fine gold':
A. 1. kāṇam + vṛtta 'wealth + business' Variant pronunciation:kaṇ-vaṭṭam rebus: kaṇ-vaṭṭam, kampaṭṭam, kammaṭa 'mint'
B. dhāi + vṛtta ebus:धातु constituent part , ingredient (esp. [ and in RV. only] ifc. , where often = " fold " e.g. त्रि-ध्/आतु , threefold &c ; cf. त्रिविष्टि- , सप्त- , सु-) RV. TS. S3Br. &celement , primitive matter (= महा-भूत L. ) MBh. Hariv. &c (usually reckoned as 5 , viz. ख or आकाश , अनिल , तेजस् , जल , भू ; to which is added ब्रह्म Ya1jn5. iii , 145 ; or विज्ञान Buddh. ); தாயம் tāyam கவறுருட்ட விழும் விருத்தம். முற்பட இடுகின்ற தாயம் (கலித் . 136, உரை ) Cubical pieces in dice-play; கவறு. (யாழ். அக.) Number one in the game of dice; கவறுருட்ட விழும் ஒன்று என்னும் எண் . Colloq.+ वटक mn. a small lump or round mass , ball , globule , pill , round cake made of pulse fried in oil or butter Vas. Sus3r. Rebus expression: धावड dhāvaḍa m A class or an individual of it. They are smelters of iron. In these parts they are Muhammadans. धावडी dhāvaḍī a Relating to the class धावड. Hence 2 Composed of or relating to iron.
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Dotted circles adorn the bottom register of the standard device normally shown in front of spiny-horned young bull ('unicorn')kaṇ-vaṭṭam கண்வட்டம் Mint; நாணயசாலை. கண்வட்டக்கள்ளன் (ஈடு.) .kampaṭṭa-k-kūṭam கம்பட்டக்கூடம் kampaṭṭa-k-kūṭam நாணயசாலை . (W .) Ta. kampaṭṭam coinage, coin. Ma. kammaṭṭam, kammiṭṭam coinage, mint. Ka. kammaṭa id.;kammaṭi a coiner (DEDR 1236)
kaṇ-vaṭṭam கண்வட்டம் கண்பார்வைக்குட்பட்ட இடம். தங்கள் கண்வட்டத்திலே உண்டுடுத்துத்திரிகிற (ஈடு , 3, 5, 2). kāṇá ʻ one -- eyed ʼ RV. Pa. Pk. kāṇa -- ʻ blind of one eye, blind ʼ; Ash. kã̄ṛa, ˚ṛī f. ʻ blind ʼ, Kt. kãŕ, Tir. kāˊna, Kho. kāṇu NTS ii 260, kánu BelvalkarVol 91; K. kônu ʻ one -- eyed ʼ, S. kāṇo, L. P. kāṇã̄; WPah. rudh. śeu. kāṇā ʻ blind ʼ; Ku. kāṇo, gng. &rtodtilde; ʻ blind of one eye ʼ, N. kānu; A. kanā ʻ blind ʼ; B. kāṇā ʻ one -- eyed, blind ʼ; Or. kaṇā, f. kāṇī ʻ one -- eyed ʼ, Mth. kān, ˚nā, kanahā, Bhoj. kān, f. ˚ni, kanwā m. ʻ one -- eyed man ʼ, H. kān, ˚nā, G. kāṇũ; M. kāṇā ʻ one -- eyed, squint -- eyed ʼ; Si. kaṇa ʻ one -- eyed, blind ʼ. -- Pk. kāṇa -- ʻ full of holes ʼ, G. kāṇũ ʻ full of holes ʼ, n. ʻ hole ʼ (< ʻ empty eyehole ʼ? Cf. ã̄dhḷũ n. ʻ hole ʼ < andhala -- ).*kāṇiya -- ; *kāṇākṣa -- .Addenda: kāṇá -- : S.kcch. kāṇī f.adj. ʻ one -- eyed ʼ; WPah.kṭg. kaṇɔ ʻ blind in one eye ʼ, J. kāṇā; Md. kanu ʻ blind ʼ. (CDIAL 3019) *kāṇākṣa ʻ one -- eyed ʼ. [kāṇá -- , ákṣi -- ]Ko. kāṇso ʻ squint -- eyed ʼ.*kāṇiya ʻ blindness ʼ. [kāṇá -- ] Pk. kāṇiya -- n. ʻ eye disease ʼ; Kho. (Lor.) kām ʻ blindness ʼ.(CDIAL 3020, 3021) காணன் kāṇaṉ ஒற்றைக்கண்ணன். கூனன் காண னிருகண்ணுமில் லான் (சைவச. ஆசாரி . 10). Ta. kāṇam horsegram, Dolichos uniflorus. Ma. kāṇam id. Te. kāṇamu food for horses, fodder; (K. also) khāṇamu food. / Turner, CDIAL, no. 3867, khādana- food; cf. esp. Guj. khāṇ boiled grain for cattle.(Dravidian borrowing from Indo-Aryan DBIA 25)
káṇa m. ʻ a grain of corn ʼ AV., ʻ drop (of water) ʼ Kāv., kaṇikā -- f. ʻ a single grain ʼ MBh.
Pa. kaṇa -- m. ʻ dust between husk and grain of rice ʼ, kaṇikā -- f. ʻ particle of broken rice ʼ; Pk. kaṇa -- , ˚aga -- m. ʻ scattered grain, rice, wheat, particle, drop ʼ, kaṇiyā -- f. ʻ fragment of rice or wheat ʼ; A. kanā ʻ a minute particle ʼ, kani ʻ egg, testicle, *drop ʼ (whence kaniyāiba ʻ to fall in small drops ʼ); B. kan ʻ eye of corn, particle ʼ, kanā ʻ piece of dust, cummin seed ʼ, kanī ʻ atom, particle ʼ; Or. kaṇa, ˚ṇā ʻ particle of dust, eye of seed, atom ʼ, kaṇi ʻ particle of grain ʼ; OAw. kana ʻ drop (of dew) ʼ;Sh. (Lor.) k*l náh ʻ grain of rice with the husk on ʼ; K. kana m. ʻ granule ʼ, pl. ʻ broken bits of grain from husked rice ʼ; S. kaṇo m. ʻ a grain, a seed ʼ; L. kaṇ m. ʻ outturn of crops ʼ, kaṇī f. ʻ drop, slight rain ʼ, (Salt Range) kaṇ m. ʻ seedling onion ʼ, kaṇī f. ʻ broken rice, drop of rain ʼ, awāṇ. kaṇ ʻ drop ʼ; P. kaṇ m. ʻ outturn of crops, grain borrowed and repayable with interest, particle ʼ, kaṇī f. ʻ particle, bran, halfformed butter in milk ʼ, kiṇī f. ʻ drop of rain ʼ (whence kiṇnā ʻ to rain moderately ʼ); WPah. bhal. kaṇi ʻ a bit of meat ʼ; H. kan m., kanī f. ʻ grain, fragment, atom ʼ; G. kaṇ, kaṇũ n. ʻ single grain of corn ʼ, kaṇī f. ʻ small grain ʼ (whence kaṇiyɔ m. ʻ grain -- dealer ʼ); M. kaṇ m. ʻ grain, atom, corn ʼ, kaṇī f. ʻ hard core of grain, pupil of eye, broken bit ʼ, kaṇẽ n. ʻ very small particle ʼ; Ko. kaṇu m. ʻ a grain ʼ; Si. kaṇa ʻ a drop of water ʼ.(CDIAL 2661)
Pa. kaṇa -- m. ʻ dust between husk and grain of rice ʼ, kaṇikā -- f. ʻ particle of broken rice ʼ; Pk. kaṇa -- , ˚aga -- m. ʻ scattered grain, rice, wheat, particle, drop ʼ, kaṇiyā -- f. ʻ fragment of rice or wheat ʼ; A. kanā ʻ a minute particle ʼ, kani ʻ egg, testicle, *drop ʼ (whence kaniyāiba ʻ to fall in small drops ʼ); B. kan ʻ eye of corn, particle ʼ, kanā ʻ piece of dust, cummin seed ʼ, kanī ʻ atom, particle ʼ; Or. kaṇa, ˚ṇā ʻ particle of dust, eye of seed, atom ʼ, kaṇi ʻ particle of grain ʼ; OAw. kana ʻ drop (of dew) ʼ;Sh. (Lor.) k
కమ్మటము, కమటము kamaṭamu. [Tel.] n. A portable furnace for melting the precious metals. అగసాలెవాని కుంపటి. "చ కమటము కట్లెసంచియొరగల్లును గత్తెర సుత్తె చీర్ణముల్ ధమనియుస్రావణంబు మొలత్రాసును బట్టెడ నీరుకారు సా నము పటుకారు మూస బలునాణె పరీక్షల మచ్చులాదిగా నమరగభద్రకారక సమాహ్వయు డొక్కరుడుండు నప్పురిన్"హంస. ii.
కమ్మటము Same as కమటము. కమ్మటీడు kammaṭīḍu. [Tel.] A man of the goldsmith caste.
కమ్మతము Same as కమతము. కమ్మతీడు Same as కమతకాడు.కమతము or కమ్మతము kamatamu. [Tel. n. Partnership. అనేకులు చేరిచేయుసేద్యము. The cultivation which an owner carries on with his own farming stock. Labour, tillage. కృషి, వ్యవసాయము. కమతకాడు or కమతీడు or కమతగాడు a labourer, or slave employed in tillage.
vr̥ttá ʻ turned ʼ RV., ʻ rounded ʼ ŚBr. 2. ʻ completed ʼ MaitrUp., ʻ passed, elapsed (of time) ʼ KauṣUp. 3. n. ʻ conduct, matter ʼ ŚBr., ʻ livelihood ʼ Hariv. [√vr̥t 1 ] 1. Pa. vaṭṭa -- ʻ round ʼ, n. ʻ circle ʼ; Pk. vaṭṭa -- , vatta -- , vitta -- , vutta -- ʻ round ʼ; L. (Ju.) vaṭ m. ʻ anything twisted ʼ; Si. vaṭa ʻ round ʼ, vaṭa -- ya ʻ circle, girth (esp. of trees) ʼ; Md. va'ʻ round ʼ GS 58; -- Paš.ar. waṭṭəwīˊk, waḍḍawik ʻ kidney ʼ ( -- wĭ̄k vr̥kká -- ) IIFL iii 3, 192?
2. Pk. vaṭṭa -- , vatta -- , vitta -- , vutta -- ʻ passed, gone away, completed, dead ʼ; Ash. weṭ -- intr. ʻ to pass (of time), pass, fall (of an avalanche) ʼ, weṭā -- tr. ʻ to pass (time) ʼ; Paš. wiṭīk ʻ passed ʼ; K.ḍoḍ. buto ʻ he was ʼ; P. batāuṇā ʻ to pass (time) ʼ; Ku. bītṇo ʻ to be spent, die ʼ, bitauṇo ʻ to pass, spend ʼ; N. bitāunu ʻ to pass (time), kill ʼ, butāunu ʻ to extinguish ʼ; Or. bitibā intr. ʻ to pass (of time), bitāibā tr.; Mth. butāb ʻ to extinguish ʼ; OAw. pret. bītā ʻ passed (of time) ʼ; H. bītnā intr. ʻ to pass (of time) ʼ, butnā ʻ to be extinguished ʼ, butānā ʻ to extinguish ʼ; G. vĭ̄tvũ intr. ʻ to pass (of time) ʼ, vatāvvũ tr. ʻ to stop ʼ.
3. Pa. vatta -- n. ʻ duty, office ʼ; Pk. vaṭṭa -- , vatta -- , vitta -- , vutta -- n. ʻ livelihood ʼ; P. buttā m. ʻ means ʼ; Ku. buto ʻ daily labour, wages ʼ; N. butā ʻ means, ability ʼ; H. oūtā m. ʻ power ʼ; Si. vaṭa ʻ subsistence, wages ʼ.
Addenda: vr̥ttá -- . 2. WPah.kṭg. b
vr̥tti f. ʻ mode of life, conduct ʼ Gr̥Śr., ʻ business ʼ MBh., ʻ wages ʼ Pañcav. [√vr̥t 1 ]
Pa. vutti -- f. ʻ practice, usage ʼ; Pk. vatti -- , vitti -- , vutti<-> f. ʻ life, livelihood ʼ; Gy. eur. buti f. ʻ work ʼ; K. brath, dat. brüċü f. ʻ trade, profession ʼ; P. buttī f. ʻ compulsory labour, unrewarded service of Brahmans and barbers ʼ; Ku. buti ʻ daily labour, wages ʼ, hāt -- but, ˚ti ʻ domestic work ʼ; Or. butā ʻ work in hand, business ʼ, buti ʻ servant ʼ; H. buttī f. ʻ means of subsistence ʼ, bīṭ, bīt f. ʻ grazing fee charged by herdsmen ʼ; Si. väṭi ʻ state, condition ʼ SigGr ii 462.(CDIAL 12069, 12070)
Pa. vutti -- f. ʻ practice, usage ʼ; Pk. vatti -- , vitti -- , vutti<-> f. ʻ life, livelihood ʼ; Gy. eur. buti f. ʻ work ʼ; K. brath, dat. brüċ
Annex.
Images of dotted circles, eyes on artifacts from cultures across Eurasia
Duck, dotted circles on Ivory rod, Mohenjo-daro seal, vartaka, karaṛa 'aquatic bird' Rebus karandi 'fire-god' (Munda.Remo), करडा [ karaḍā ] Hard from alloy--iron, silver &c. vartaka 'bell-metal merchant' dhāvaḍa 'iron smelter'
This is an addendum to:
Abiding Indus Script hypertext dotted circle is dhāv, dāya 'one in dice' + vaṭṭa 'circle' rebus धावड dhāvaḍa 'red ferrite ore smelter'
Hieroglyph: Aquatic bird
Ivory rod, ivory plaques with dotted circles. Mohenjo-daro (Musee National De Arts Asiatiques, Guimet, 1988-1989, , Les cites oubliees de l’Indus Archeologie du Pakistan.] dhātu 'layer, strand'; dhāv 'strand, string' Rebus: dhāu, dhātu 'ore'. dATu 'cross' rebus: dhatu 'mineral'. Thus, the message signified by dotted circles and X hieroglyph refers to dhā̆vaḍ priest of 'iron-smelters'. The aquatic duck shown atop an ivory rod is: karaṇḍa 'duck' (Sanskrit) karaṛa 'a very large aquatic bird' (Sindhi) Rebus: करडा [karaḍā] Hard from alloy--iron, silver &c. (Marathi) Thus, the metalworker (smelter) works with hard alloys (using carburization process). Three dotted circles: kolom 'three' rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'. Thus working with minerals and hard alloys for smithy, forge.
Andrae, 1935, 57-76, pls. 12, 30 1. Jakob-Rust, in Vorderaslatisches Museum 1992, 160, no. 103; Andrae, 1935, 16, figs. 2,3.
करंडा [karaṇḍā] A clump, chump, or block of wood. 4 The stock or fixed portion of the staff of the large leaf-covered summerhead or umbrella. करांडा [ karāṇḍā ] m C A cylindrical piece as sawn or chopped off the trunk or a bough of a tree; a clump, chump, or block.
Rebus: fire-god: @B27990. #16671. Remo <karandi>E155 {N} ``^fire-^god''.(Munda)
[quote]Description: Although the cult pedestal of the Middle Assyrian king Tukulti-Ninurta mentions in its short inscription that it is dedicated to the god Nuska, the relief on the front that depicts the king in a rare kind of narrative, standing and kneeling in front of the very same pedestal was frequently discussed by art-historians. More strikingly on top of the depicted pedestal there is not the lamp, the usual divine symbol for the god Nuska, but most likely the representation of a tablet and a stylus, symbols for the god Nabû. (Klaus Wagensonner, University of Oxford)[unquote] http://cdli.ox.ac.uk/wiki/doku.php?id=pedestal_tukulti_ninurta
No, it is not a representation of a tablet and a stylus, but a chump, a block of wood, karaṇḍā read rebus: karandi 'fire-god' (Munda). Thus, the chump is the divine symbol of fire-god.
Kalibangan065 Cylinder seal impression. Note the scarf of the person ligatured to a tiger.
kuṭi 'tree' Rebus: kuṭhi 'smelting furnace‘; koṭe ‘forged metal’ (Santali)(Phonetic determinant of the twig on the horns of the woman ligatured to the tiger'
Part of Kalibangan cylinder seal narrative. Ligatured to a tiger. Scarf, markhor horn, twig, next to tree. Rice-plant. dhatu 'scarf' Rebus: dhatu 'mineral' mũh 'face' Rebus mũhã̄ 'iron furnace output' kōḍu horn rebus: koD 'workshop' kolmo 'rice plant' rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge' kolom 'three' rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge' kuTi 'tree' rebus: kuThi 'smelter' kola 'tiger' rebus: kol 'working in iron'.koḍu 'horn' Rebus: koḍ 'workshop'
kolmo 'three' Rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'
tagaraka, tabernae montana 'flower', 'hair fragrance' Rebus: tagara 'tin'
Two fencers: dula 'two' rebus: dul 'metal casting' PLUS
karaṭi, karuṭi, keruṭi fencing, school or gymnasium where wrestling and fencing are taught (Ta.); garaḍi, garuḍi fencing school (Ka.); garaḍi, garoḍi (Tu.); gariḍi, gariḍī id., fencing (Te.)(DEDR 1262).
Rebus 1: करडा [ karaḍā ] Hard fromalloy--iron, silver &c. Rebus 2: kharādī = turner (G.) Rebus 3: kharaḍa, brief memoranda of metalwork Rebus: karaṇḍi 'fire-god' (Remo)Remo <karandi>E155 {N} ``^fire-^god''.(Munda).
Hieroglyph: karã̄ n. pl. ʻ wristlets, bangles ʼ (Gujarati) Rebus: khār 'blacksmith' kola 'woman' Rebus: kolhe 'smelter' kol 'working in iron' kolle 'blacksmith' kolimi 'smithy, forge'.kole.l 'smithy, forge' kole.l 'temple'.
Below the rim of the Susa storage pot, the contents are described in Sarasvati Script hieroglyphs/hypertexts: 1. Flowing water; 2. fish with fin; 3. aquatic bird tied to a rope Rebus readings of these hieroglyphs/hypertexts signify metal implements from the Meluhha mint.
Clay storage pot discovered in Susa (Acropole mound), ca. 2500-2400 BCE (h. 20 ¼ in. or 51 cm). Musee du Louvre. Sb 2723 bis (vers 2450 avant J.C.)
The hieroglyphs and Meluhha rebus readings on this pot from Meluhha are: 1. kāṇḍa 'water' rebus: khāṇḍā 'metal equipment'; 2. aya, ayo 'fish' rebus: aya 'iron' ayas 'metal alloy'; khambhaṛā 'fish fin' rebus: kammaṭ a 'mint, coiner, coinage' 3. करड m. a sort of duck -- f. a partic. kind of bird ; S. karaṛa -ḍhī˜gu m. a very large aquatic bird (CDIAL 2787) karaṇḍa‘duck’ (Samskrtam) rebus: karaḍā 'hard alloy'; PLUS 4. meṛh 'rope tying to post, pillar’ rebus meḍ‘iron’ med ‘copper’ (Slavic)
Susa pot is a ‘Rosetta stone’ for Sarasvati Script
Water (flow)
Fish fish-fin
aquatic bird on wave (indicating aquatic nature of the bird), tied to rope, water
kāṇḍa 'water' rebus: kāṇḍa 'implements
The vase a la cachette, shown with its contents. Acropole mound, Susa.[20]
The vase a la cachette, shown with its contents. Acropole mound, Susa.[20]
It is a remarkable 'rosetta stone' because it validates the expression used by Panini: ayaskāṇḍa अयस्--काण्ड [p= 85,1] m. n. " a quantity of iron " or " excellent iron " , (g. कस्का*दि q.v.). The early semantics of this expression is likely to be 'metal implements compared with the Santali expression to signify iron implements: meď 'copper' (Slovāk), mẽṛhẽt,khaṇḍa (Santali) मृदु mṛdu,’soft iron’ (Samskrtam).
Santali glosses.
Sarasvati Script hieroglyphs painted on the jar are: fish, quail and streams of water;
aya 'fish' (Munda) rebus: aya 'iron' (Gujarati) ayas 'metal' (Rigveda) khambhaṛā 'fin' rebus: kammaṭa 'mint' Thus, together ayo kammaṭa, 'metals mint'
baṭa 'quail' Rebus: bhaṭa 'furnace'.
karaṇḍa 'duck' (Sanskrit) karaṛa 'a very large aquatic bird' (Sindhi) Rebus: करडा karaḍā 'Hard from alloy--iron, silver &c'. (Marathi) PLUS meRh 'tied rope' meṛh f. ʻ rope tying oxen to each other and to post on threshing floor ʼ (Lahnda)(CDIAL 10317) Rebus: mūhā mẽṛhẽt = iron smelted by the Kolhes and formeḍinto an equilateral lump a little pointed at each end; mẽṛhẽt, meḍ ‘iron’ (Mu.Ho.)
Thus, read together, the proclamation on the jar by the painted hieroglyphs is: baṭa meṛh karaḍā ayas kāṇḍa 'hard alloy iron metal implements out of the furnace (smithy)'.
This is a jar closed with a ducted bowl. The treasure called "vase in hiding" was initially grouped in two containers with lids. The second ceramic vessel was covered with a copper lid. It no longer exists leaving only one. Both pottery contained a variety of small objects form a treasure six seals, which range from Proto-Elamite period (3100-2750 BCE) to the oldest, the most recent being dated to 2450 BCE (First Dynasty of Ur).
Therefore it is possible to date these objects, this treasure. Everything included 29 vessels including 11 banded alabaster, mirror, tools and weapons made of copper and bronze, 5 pellets crucibles copper, 4 rings with three gold and a silver, a small figurine of a frog lapis lazuli, gold beads 9, 13 small stones and glazed shard.
"In the third millenium Sumerian texts list copper among the raw materials reaching Uruk from Aratta and all three of the regions Magan, Meluhha and Dilmun are associated with copper, but the latter only as an emporium. Gudea refers obliquely to receiving copper from Dilmun: 'He (Gudea) conferred with the divine Ninzaga (= Enzak of Dilmun), who transported copper like grain deliveries to the temple builder Gudea...' (Cylinder A: XV, 11-18, Englund 1983, 88, n.6). Magan was certainly a land producing the metal, since it is occasionally referred to as the 'mountain of copper'. It may also have been the source of finished bronze objects."
"Susa... profound affinity between the Elamite people who migrated to Anshan and Susa and the Dilmunite people... Elam proper corresponded to the plateau of Fars with its capital at Anshan. We think, however that it probably extended further north into the Bakhtiari Mountains... likely that the chlorite and serpentine vases reached Susa by sea... From the victory proclamations of the kings of Akkad we also learn that the city of Anshan had been re-established, as the capital of a revitalised political ally: Elam itself... the import by Ur and Eshnunna of inscribed objects typical of the Harappan culture provides the first reliable chronological evidence. [C.J. Gadd, Seals of ancient style found at Ur, Proceedings of the British Academy, XVIII, 1932; Henry Frankfort, Tell Asmar, Khafaje and Khorsabad, OIC, 16, 1933, p. 50, fig. 22). It is certainly possible that writing developed in India before this time, but we have no real proof. Now Susa had received evidence of this same civilisation, admittedly not all dating from the Akkadian period, but apparently spanning all the closing years of the third millennium (L. Delaporte, Musee du Louvre. Catalogues des Cylindres Orientaux..., vol. I, 1920pl. 25(15), S.29. P. Amiet, Glyptique susienne,MDAI, 43, 1972, vol. II, pl. 153, no. 1643)... B. Buchanan has published a tablet dating from the reign of Gungunum of Larsa, in the twentieth century BC, which carries the impression of such a stamp seal. (B.Buchanan, Studies in honor of Benno Landsberger, Chicago, 1965, p. 204, s.). The date so revealed has been wholly confirmed by the impression of a stamp seal from the group, fig. 85, found on a Susa tablet of the same period. (P. Amiet, Antiquites du Desert de Lut, RA, 68, 1974, p. 109, fig. 16. Maurice Lambert, RA, 70, 1976, p. 71-72). It is in fact, a receipt of the kind in use at the beginning of the Isin-Larsa period, and mentions a certain Milhi-El, son of Tem-Enzag, who, from the name of his god, must be a Dilmunite. In these circumstances we may wonder if this document had not been drawn up at Dilmun and sent to Susa after sealing with a local stamp seal. This seal is decorated with six tightly-packed, crouching animals, characterised by vague shapes, with legs under their bodies, huge heads and necks sometimes striped obliquely. The impression of another seal of similar type, fig. 86, depicts in the centre a throned figure who seems to dominate the animals, continuing a tradition of which examples are known at the end of the Ubaid period in Assyria... Fig. 87 to 89 are Dilmun-type seals found at Susa. The boss is semi-spherical and decorated with a band across the centre and four incised circles. [Pierre Amiet, Susa and the Dilmun Culture, pp. 262-268].
Hieroglyphs: Dotted circles
Indus Script hypertext/hieroglyph: Dotted circle: दाय 1 [p= 474,2] dāya n. game , play Pan5cad.; mfn. ( Pa1n2. 3-1 , 139 ; 141) giving , presenting (cf. शत- , गो-); m. handing over , delivery Mn. viii , 165 (Monier-Williams)
தாயம் tāyam :Number one in the game of dice; கவறுருட்ட விழும் ஒன்று என்னும் எண். Colloq. (Tamil)
rebus: dhāˊtu n. ʻ substance ʼ RV., m. ʻ element ʼ MBh., ʻ metal, mineral, ore (esp. of a red colour) ʼ Mn., ʻ ashes of the dead ʼ lex., ʻ *strand of rope ʼ (cf. tridhāˊtu -- ʻ threefold ʼ RV., ayugdhātu -- ʻ having an uneven number of strands ʼ KātyŚr.). [√dhā]Pa. dhātu -- m. ʻ element, ashes of the dead, relic ʼ; KharI. dhatu ʻ relic ʼ; 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); -- Si. dā ʻrelic ʼ; -- 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) धाव (p. 250) dhāva m f A certain soft, red stone. Baboons are said to draw it from the bottom of brooks, and to besmear their faces with it. धावड (p. 250) dhāvaḍa m A class or an individual of it. They are smelters of iron. In these parts they are Muhammadans. धावडी (p. 250) dhāvaḍī a Relating to the class धावड. Hence 2 Composed of or relating to iron. (Marathi).
PLUS
Hieroglyph: vaṭṭa 'circle'.
Thus, together, the hypertext reads rebus dhā̆vaḍ 'smelter'
The dotted circle hypertexts link with 1. iron workers called धावड (p. 250) dhāvaḍa and 2. miners of Mosonszentjános, Hungary; 3. Gonur Tepe metalworkers, metal traders and 4. the tradition of अक्ष-- पटल [p= 3,2] n. court of law; depository of legal document Ra1jat. Thus, अक्ष on Indus Script Corpora signify documents, wealth accounting ledgers of metal work with three red ores. Akkha2 [Vedic akṣa, prob. to akṣi & Lat. oculus, "that which has eyes" i. e. a die; cp. also Lat. ālea game at dice (fr.* asclea?)] a die D i.6 (but expld at DA i.86 as ball -- game: guḷakīḷa); S i.149 = A v.171 = Sn 659 (appamatto ayaŋ kali yo akkhesu dhanaparājayo); J i.379 (kūṭ˚ a false player, sharper, cheat) anakkha one who is not a gambler J v.116 (C.: ajūtakara). Cp. also accha3. -- dassa (cp. Sk. akṣadarśaka) one who looks at (i. e. examines) the dice, an umpire, a judge Vin iii.47; Miln 114, 327, 343 (dhamma -- nagare). -- dhutta one who has the vice of gambling D ii.348; iii.183; M iii.170; Sn 106 (+ itthidhutta & surādhutta). -- vāṭa fence round an arena for wrestling J iv.81. (? read akka -- ).
Distribution of geometrical seals in Greater Indus Valley during the early and *Mature Harappan periods (c. 3000 - 2000 BCE). After Uesugi 2011, Development of the Inter-regional interaction system in the Indus valley and beyond: a hypothetical view towards the formation of the urban society' in: Cultural relagions betwen the Indus and the Iranian plateau during the 3rd millennium BCE, ed. Toshiki Osada & Michael Witzel. Harvard Oriental Series, Opera Minora 7. Pp. 359-380. Cambridge, MA: Dept of Sanskrit and Indian Studies, Harvard University: fig.7.
Dotted circles and three lines on the obverse of many Failaka/Dilmun seals are read rebus as hieroglyphs:
Hieroglyph: ḍāv m. ʻdice-throwʼ rebus: dhāu 'ore'; dã̄u ʻtyingʼ, ḍāv m. ʻdice-throwʼ read rebus: dhāu 'ore' in the context of glosses: dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻa caste of iron -smelters', dhāvḍī ʻcomposed of or relating to ironʼ. Thus, three dotted circles signify: tri-dhāu, tri-dhātu 'three ores' (copper, tin, iron).
A (गोटा) gōṭā Spherical or spheroidal, pebble-form. (Marathi) Rebus: khoṭā ʻalloyedʼ (metal) (Marathi) खोट [khōṭa] f A mass of metal (unwrought or of old metal melted down); an ingot or wedge (Marathi). P. khoṭ m. ʻalloyʼ (CDIAL 3931) goTa 'laterite ferrite ore'.
The + glyph of Sibri evidence is comparable to the large-sized 'dot', dotted circles and + glyph shown on this Mohenjo-daro seal m0352 with dotted circles repeated on 5 sides A to F. Mohenjo-daro Seal m0352 shows dotted circles in the four corners of a fire-altar and at the centre of the altar together with four raised 'bun' ingot-type rounded features. Rebus readings of m0352 hieroglyphs:dhātu 'layer, strand'; dhāv 'strand, string' Rebus: dhāu, dhātu 'ore'
1. Round dot like a blob -- . Glyph: raised large-sized dot -- (gōṭī ‘round pebble);goTa 'laterite (ferrite ore)
2. Dotted circle khaṇḍa ‘A piece, bit, fragment, portion’; kandi ‘bead’;
3. A + shaped structure where the glyphs 1 and 2 are infixed. The + shaped structure is kaṇḍ ‘a fire-altar’ (which is associated with glyphs 1 and 2)..
Rebus readings are: 1. khoṭ m. ʻalloyʼgoTa 'laterite (ferrite ore); 2. khaṇḍā ‘tools, pots and pans and metal-ware’; 3. kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar, consecrated fire’.
Four ‘round spot’; glyphs around the ‘dotted circle’ in the center of the composition: gōṭī ‘round pebble; Rebus 1: goTa 'laterite (ferrite ore); Rebus 2:L. khoṭf ʻalloy, impurityʼ, °ṭā ʻalloyedʼ, awāṇ. khoṭā ʻforgedʼ; P. khoṭ m. ʻbase, alloyʼ M.khoṭā ʻalloyedʼ (CDIAL 3931) Rebus 3: kōṭhī ] f (कोष्ट S) A granary, garner, storehouse, warehouse, treasury, factory, bank. khoṭā ʻalloyedʼ metal is produced from kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar’ yielding khaṇḍā ‘tools, pots and pans and metal-ware’. This word khaṇḍā is denoted by the dotted circles.
Decipherment of dotted circles and duck on ivory counters are wealth-accounting daybooks (ledgers)
See decipherment of dotted circles an duck on the ivory counters which are wealth accounting ledgers. Details at Duck, dotted circles on Ivory rod, Mohenjo-daro seal, vartaka, karaṛa 'aquatic bird' Rebus karandi 'fire-god' (Munda.Remo), करडा [ karaḍā ] Hard from alloy--iron, silver &c. vartaka 'bell-metal merchant' dhāvaḍa 'iron smelter'खरडा (kharaḍā m (खरडणें) Scrapings (as from a culinary utensil). 2 Bruised or coarsely broken peppercorns &38;c.: a mass of bruised मेथ्या &38;c. 3 also खरडें n A scrawl; a memorandum-scrap; a foul, blotted, interlined piece of writing. 4 also खरडें n A rude sketch; a rough draught; a foul copy; a waste-book; a day-book; a note-book.
https://tinyurl.com/yxfo2otj see image of 'duck' on a seal together with one-horned young bull which has already been deciphered kunda singi 'fine gold, ornament gold'.
https://tinyurl.com/yxfo2otj see image of 'duck' on a seal together with one-horned young bull which has already been deciphered kunda singi 'fine gold, ornament gold'.
Ivory counters, Mohenjo-daro
"Bone and ivory counters with circles and lines, carved in ways that do not correspond to dice, may have been used for predicting the future," writes Mark Kenoyer about these objects in Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley Civilization (p. 120). The counter on the right has a duck ornament at one end, the counter on the left has a double duck ornament on the end. The larger one may be a stylized figurine with triple circle motifs incised on both faces."https://www.harappa.com/blog/ivory-counters-mohenjo-daro
Bird 1: quail or duck
vartaka = a duck (Skt.) batak = a duck (Gujarati) vartikā quail (Rigveda) baṭṭai quail (Nepalese) vártikā f. ʻ quail ʼ RV. 2. vārtika -- m. lex. 3. var- takā -- f. lex. (eastern form ac. to Kātyāyana: S. Lévi JA 1912, 498), °ka -- m. Car., vārtāka -- m. lex. [Cf.vartīra -- m. Suśr., °tira -- lex., *vartakara -- ] 1. Ash. uwŕe/ ʻ partridge ʼ NTS ii 246 (connexion denied NTS v 340), Paš.snj. waṭīˊ; K. hāra -- wüṭü f. ʻ species of waterfowl ʼ (hāra -- < śāˊra -- ).2. Kho. barti ʻ quail, partridge ʼ BelvalkarVol 88.3. Pa. vaṭṭakā -- f., °ka -- in cmpds. ʻ quail ʼ, Pk. vaṭṭaya -- m., N. baṭṭāi (< vārtāka -- ?), A. batā -- sarāi, B. batui, baṭuyā; Si. vaṭuvā ʻ snipe, sandpiper ʼ (ext. of *vaṭu < vartakā -- ). -- With unexpl. bh -- : Or. bhāṭoi, °ṭui ʻ the grey quail Cotarnix communis ʼ, (dial.) bhāroi, °rui (< early MIA. *vāṭāka -- < vārtāka -- : cf. vāṭī -- f. ʻ a kind of bird ʼ Car.).Addenda: vartikā -- [Dial. a ~ ā < IE. non -- apophonic o (cf. Gk. o)/rtuc and early EMIA. vāṭī -- f. ʻ a kind of bird ʼ Car. < *vārtī -- ) (CDIAL 11361)
Rebus: paṭṭar-ai community; guild as of workmen (Ta.); pattar merchants (Ta.); perh. vartaka (Skt.) pātharī ʻprecious stoneʼ (OMarw.) (CDIAL 8857) பத்தர் pattar, n. perh. vartaka. Merchants; வியாபாரிகள். (W.) battuḍu. n. The caste title of all the five castes of artificers as vaḍla b*, carpenter. वर्तक mfn. who or what abides or exists , abiding , existing , living; n. a sort of brass or steel; merchant. వర్తకము vartakamu vartakamu. [Skt.] n. Trade, traffic, commerce. బేరము, వ్యాపారము. A sort of quail, Perdix oilvacca. వెలిచెపిట్ట, మీనవల్లంకిపిట్ట, వర్తకుడు vartakuḍu. n. A merchant, or trader. బేరముచేయువాడు.
Rebus: *varta2 ʻ circular object ʼ or more prob. ʻ something made of metal ʼ, cf. vartaka -- 2 n. ʻ bell -- metal, brass ʼ lex. and vartalōha -- . [√vr̥t?] Pk. vaṭṭa -- m.n., °aya -- m. ʻ cup ʼ; Ash. waṭāˊk ʻ cup, plate ʼ; K. waṭukh, dat. °ṭakas m. ʻ cup, bowl ʼ; S. vaṭo m. ʻ metal drinking cup ʼ; N. bāṭā, ʻ round copper or brass vessel ʼ; A. bāṭi ʻ cup ʼ; B. bāṭā ʻ box for betel ʼ; Or. baṭā ʻ metal pot for betel ʼ, bāṭi ʻ cup, saucer ʼ; Mth. baṭṭā ʻ large metal cup ʼ, bāṭī ʻ small do. ʼ, H. baṭṛī f.; G. M. vāṭī f. ʻ vessel ʼ.*aṅkavarta -- , *kajjalavarta -- , *kalaśavarta -- , *kṣāṇavartaka -- , *cūrṇavarta -- , parṇavartikā -- , *hiṅgulavarta -- .Addenda: *varta -- 2: Md. vař ʻ circle ʼ (vař -- han̆du ʻ full moon ʼ).(CDIAL 11347)
वर्तक a [p= 925,2] n. a sort of brass or steel वर्तः (Usually at the end of comp.) Living, liveli- hood; as in कल्यवर्त q. v. -Comp. -जन्मन् m. a cloud. -तीक्ष्णम्, -लोहम् bell-metal, a kind of brass.
Bird 2: aquatic bird or crane
Grus Virgo or Numidian or Demoiselle Crane The Demoiselle Crane breeds in C Eurasia, from Black Sea to Mongolia and NE China. It winters in Indian Subcontinent and in Sub-Saharan Africa. http://www.oiseaux-birds.com/card-demoiselle-crane.html
Hieroglyphs on Dongson bronze drum tympanums.
करड m. a sort of duck -- f. a partic. kind of bird ; S. karaṛa -ḍhī˜gu m. a very large aquatic bird (CDIAL 2787) karaṇḍa ‘duck’ (Samskrtam)కారండవము (p. 274) [ kāraṇḍavamu ] rebus: karaḍā 'hard alloy' करडा karaḍā 'Hard from alloy--iron, silver &c'.
khambhaṛā 'fish fin' rebus: kammaTa ‘mint, coiner, coinage’ gaṇḍa 'four' Rebus: khaṇḍa 'metal implements. Together with cognate ancu 'iron' the message is: native metal implements mint
Thus, the hieroglyph multiplex reads: aya ancu khaṇḍa kammaṭa ‘metallic iron alloy implements, mint, coiner, coinage’.koḍi ‘flag’ (Ta.)(DEDR 2049). Rebus 1: koḍ ‘workshop’ (Kuwi) Rebus 2: khŏḍ m. ‘pit’, khö̆ḍü f. ‘small pit’ (Kashmiri. CDIAL 3947)
kāraṇḍava m. ʻ a kind of duck ʼ MBh. [Cf. kāraṇḍa- m. ʻ id. ʼ R., karēṭu -- m. ʻ Numidian crane ʼ lex.: see karaṭa -- 1]Pa. kāraṇḍava -- m. ʻ a kind of duck ʼ; Pk. kāraṁḍa -- , °ḍaga -- , °ḍava -- m. ʻ a partic. kind of bird ʼ; S. kānero m. ʻ a partic. kind of water bird ʼ < *kāreno.(CDIAL 3059) करढोंक or की (p. 78) karaḍhōṅka or kī m करडोक m A kind of crane or heron (Marathi) kāraṇḍava m. ʻ a kind of duck ʼ MBh. [Cf. kāraṇḍa- m. ʻ id. ʼ R., karēṭu -- m. ʻ Numidian crane ʼ lex.: see karaṭa -- 1]Pa. kāraṇḍava -- m. ʻ a kind of duck ʼ; Pk. kāraṁḍa -- , °ḍaga -- , °ḍava -- m. ʻ a partic. kind of bird ʼ; S. kānero m. ʻ a partic. kind of water bird ʼ < *kāreno.(CDIAL 3059) करढोंक or की (p. 78) karaḍhōṅka or kī m करडोक m A kind of crane or heron (Marathi)
Bird 3: pōlaḍu, 'black drongo' rebus: pōlaḍ 'steel'
kuṭhi ‘a furnace for smelting iron ore, to smelt iron’;koṭe ‘forged (metal)(Santali) kuṭhi ‘a furnace for smelting iron ore to smelt iron’; kolheko kuṭhieda koles smelt iron (Santali) kuṭhi, kuṭi (Or.; Sad. koṭhi) (1) the smelting furnace of the blacksmith; kuṭire bica duljad.ko talkena, they were feeding the furnace with ore; (2) the name of ēkuṭi has been given to the fire which, in lac factories, warms the water bath for softening the lac so that it can be spread into sheets; to make a smelting furnace; kuṭhi-o of a smelting furnace, to be made; the smelting furnace of the blacksmith is made of mud, cone-shaped, 2’ 6” dia. At the base and 1’ 6” at the top. The hole in the centre, into which the mixture of charcoal and iron ore is poured, is about 6” to 7” in dia. At the base it has two holes, a smaller one into which the nozzle of the bellow is inserted and a larger one on the opposite side through which the molten iron flows out into a cavity (Mundari) kuṭhi = a factory; lil kuṭhi = an indigo factory (koṭhi - Hindi) (Santali.Bodding) kuṭhi = an earthen furnace for smelting iron; make do., smelt iron; kolheko do kuṭhi benaokate baliko dhukana, the Kolhes build an earthen furnace and smelt iron-ore, blowing the bellows; tehen:ko kuṭhi yet kana, they are working (or building) the furnace to-day (H. koṭhī ) (Santali. Bodding) kuṭṭhita = hot, sweltering; molten (of tamba, cp. uttatta)(Pali.lex.) uttatta (ut + tapta) = heated, of metals: molten, refined; shining, splendid, pure (Pali.lex.) kuṭṭakam, kuṭṭukam = cauldron (Ma.); kuṭṭuva = big copper pot for heating water (Kod.)(DEDR 1668). gudgā to blaze; gud.va flame (Man.d); gudva, gūdūvwa, guduwa id. (Kuwi)(DEDR 1715). dāntar-kuṭha = fireplace (Sv.); kōti wooden vessel for mixing yeast (Sh.); kōlhā house with mud roof and walls, granary (P.); kuṭhī factory (A.); koṭhā brick-built house (B.); kuṭhī bank, granary (B.); koṭho jar in which indigo is stored, warehouse (G.); koṭhīlare earthen jar, factory (G.); kuṭhī granary, factory (M.)(CDIAL 3546). koṭho = a warehouse; a revenue office, in which dues are paid and collected; koṭhī a store-room; a factory (Gujarat) koḍ = the place where artisans work (Gujarati)
पोळ pōḷa, 'Zebu, bos indicus' PLUS పోలడు [ pōlaḍu ] 'black drongo' PLUS dula 'two' rebus:pōlāda 'steel', pwlad (Russian) PLUS dul 'metal casting'. PLUS kanac 'corner' rebus: kancu 'bronze'. Thus, a dealer in bronze and steel castings.
kuṭhi ‘smelter furnace’ (Santali) kuṛī f. ‘fireplace’ (H.); krvṛI f. ‘granary (WPah.); kuṛī, kuṛo house, building’(Ku.)(CDIAL 3232) kuṭi ‘hut made of boughs’ (Skt.) guḍi temple (Telugu)
Allograph: fire divinity
करडी [ karaḍī ] f (See करडई) Safflower: also its seed.
Rebus: karaḍa 'hard alloy' of arka 'copper'.
"Tell Brak, located in the Upper Khabur region of northeast Syria on the fertile plains near the Tigris river, is one of northern Mesopotamia’s largest ancient sites and among the world’s earliest cities. It was first photographed from the air by Fr Pierre Poidebard in the 1920s and was first excavated by Sir Max Mallowan in 1937-8. From 2011, archaeological research at Tell Brak was funded by a British Academy Research Development Award (BARDA).In ancient times, Tell Brak was considered an international city. It was home to several civilizations over the centuries, including the Sumerians, Babylonians, Akkadians and the Mittani’s. The city was finally abandoned in c.2000 BC." https://ancientarchives.wordpress.com/2014/04/04/unique-mysterious-figurines-with-enormous-eyes-eye-idols-of-tell-brak/
AN ANATOLIAN MARBLE TWO-HEADED IDOL CIRCA LATE 3RD MILLENNIUM B.C. The disk-shaped body embellished on one side with ornament, composed of rows of dotted circles divided by undulating ribbon, forming a broad V at the top with radiating sections below, the top of an inverted triangle at the lower end, indicating the pudendum, vertical lines at the base of the long necks, surmounted by two joined triangular heads, each with circular eyes under M-shaped brows merging with a wide nose4¾ in. (12.1 c )
Ivory comb. Turkmenistan.
h1522 (from Indus Writing Corpora)
Note: The first known examples of writing may have been unearthed at an archaeological dig in Harappa, Pakistan. So-called 'plant-like' and 'trident-shaped' markings have been found on fragments of pottery dating back 5500 years. According to Dr Richard Meadow of Harvard University, the director of the Harappa Archaeological Research Project, these primitive inscriptions found on pottery may pre-date all other known writing. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/334517.stm
A rebus reading of the hieroglyph is: tagaraka, tabernae montana. Rebus: tagara ‘tin’ (Kannada); tamara id. (Skt.) Allograph: ṭagara ‘ram’. Since tagaraka is used as an aromatic unguent for the hair, fragrance, the glyph gets depicted on a stone flask, an ivory comb and axe of Tell Abraq.
A soft-stone flask, 6 cm. tall, from Bactria (northern Afghanistan) showing a winged female deity (?) flanked by two flowers similar to those shown on the comb from Tell Abraq.(After Pottier, M.H., 1984, Materiel funeraire e la Bactriane meridionale de l'Age du Bronze, Paris, Editions Recherche sur les Civilisations: plate 20.150). Ivory comb with Mountain Tulip motif and dotted circles. TA 1649 Tell Abraq.(D.T. Potts, South and Central Asian elements at Tell Abraq (Emirate of Umm al-Qaiwain, United Arab Emirates), c. 2200 BC—AD 400, in Asko Parpola and Petteri Koskikallio, South Asian Archaeology 1993: , pp. 615-666).
tabar = a broad axe (Punjabi). Rebus: tam(b)ra ‘copper’ tagara ‘tabernae montana’, ‘tulip’. Rebus: tagara ‘tin’.
So, the race is on to find the world's oldest writing. My suggestion is that Harappan find represens the world's oldest writing system. There is evidence of the system in Indus Writing Corpora of nearly 7000 inscriptions, presented in Indian Writing in Ancient Near East (Kalyanaraman, 2012).
The presence of dotted circles on ivory combs -- (together other hieroglyphs signifying tagara 'tin', tam(b)ra 'copper') -- is explained as metallurgical processing of mineral ores: dantaka (a) ʻ *having teeth ʼ. (b) in cmpd. ʻ tooth ʼ TS. (c) m. ʻ projection on a rock ʼ lex. [dánta -- ](a) K. dondu ʻ tusked ʼ; Or. dāntā ʻ having teeth ʼ; G. dã̄tɔ m. ʻ a kind of rake or harrow ʼ. -- (b) Pa. dantaka<-> m. ʻ ivory pin ʼ; S. ḍ̠ando m. ʻ tooth of an instrument ʼ; L. ḍandā m. ʻ tooth (of rake &c.) ʼ, dandī f. ʻ milk -- tooth ʼ; Or. dāntī ʻ toothlike projection ʼ; H. dã̄tā m. ʻ large tooth, tooth (of comb &c.) ʼ, dã̄tī f. ʻ tooth, cog ʼ; G. dã̄tɔ ʻ cog ʼ, dã̄tī f. ʻ wedge between the teeth of a comb ʼ; M. dã̄tā ʻ tooth (of rake &c.), cog ʼ; Si. dätta, st. däti<-> ʻ tooth (of a saw) ʼ. -- (c) L. dandī f. ʻ cliff ʼ; N. dã̄ti ʻ edge of a hole used in a game ʼ; A. dã̄ti ʻ edge ʼ; -- ext. -- r -- : L.awāṇ. dandrī ʻ edge ʼ, A. dã̄tri ʻ edge of platform ʼ. <-> S. ḍ̠andi f. ʻ selvage of a web ʼ, L. dand f. ʻ precipice ʼ < *dantī -- ?(CDIAL 6153) Rebus: dhāˊtu n. ʻ substance ʼ RV., m. ʻ element ʼ MBh., ʻ metal, mineral, ore (esp. of a red colour) ʼ Mn., ʻ ashes of the dead ʼ lex., ʻ *strand of rope ʼ (cf. tridhāˊtu -- ʻ threefold ʼ RV., ayugdhātu -- ʻ having an uneven number of strands ʼ KātyŚr.). [√dhā ] Pa. dhātu -- m. ʻ element, ashes of the dead, relic ʼ; KharI. dhatu ʻ relic ʼ; 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); -- Si. dā ʻ relic ʼ; -- 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)
Ivory. BMACL
Harappa Seals.
Seal. Baror, Rajasthan.
Kultepe, Anatolia
This is comparable to the Ujjaini symbol on ancient coins.
Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/2 karshapana, multi-symbol type
Weight: 4.22 gm., Diameter: 18 mm.
Centrally placed Ujjain symbol; svastika and Indradhvaja on right and
railed tree on left; fish-tank above the Ujjain symbol and parts of
chakra on top right; river at the bottom.
Double-orbed Ujjain symbol
Reference: Pieper 379 (plate specimen)
Weight: 4.22 gm., Diameter: 18 mm.
Centrally placed Ujjain symbol; svastika and Indradhvaja on right and
railed tree on left; fish-tank above the Ujjain symbol and parts of
chakra on top right; river at the bottom.
Double-orbed Ujjain symbol
Reference: Pieper 379 (plate specimen)
http://coinindia.com/galleries-ujjain4.html
Eran, anonymous 1/2 AE karshapana, five punch ‘symbol type’
Weight: 5.35 gm., Dimensions: 20×19 mm.
‘Ujjain symbol’, Indradhvaja, railed tree, river.
Blank reverse
Reference: Pieper 482 (plate coin) http://coinindia.com/galleries-eran1.html
kuṭi ‘tree’ rebus: kuṭhi ‘smelter’
I suggest that the so-called Ujjaini symbol with four dotted circles orthographed on a + glyph refer to dhātu 'strand' rebus: dhātu 'mineral ore', thus four mineral ores: copper PLUS magnetite, haematite and laterite (all red ores). Hence, the hypertext is read rebus as: dhāvaḍ 'smelter'. gaṇḍa 'four' rebus: kaṇḍa 'fire-altar. Thus, a fire-altar for dhātu 'mineral ores'.'
kuṭhi 'tree' Rebus: kuṭhi 'smelting furnace‘; koṭe ‘forged metal’ (Santali)(Phonetic determinant of the twig on the horns of the woman ligatured to the tiger'
gaNDa 'four' rebus: kaNDa 'implements''fire-altar'
Four Dotted circles: Dotted circle hieroglyph is a cross-section of a strand of rope: S. dhāī f. ʻ wisp of fibres added from time to time to a rope that is being twisted ʼ, L. dhāī˜ f. Rebus: dhāˊtu n. ʻsubstance ʼ RV., m. ʻ element ʼ MBh., ʻ metal, mineral, ore (esp. of a red colour)ʼ; dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ(Marathi) धवड (p. 436) [ dhavaḍa ] m (Or
This compares with svastika hieroglyph of Harappa (Indus) Script. Hieroglyph: sattva 'svastika' glyph Rebus: sattu, satavu, satuvu 'pewter' (Kannada)
The casting has five wide spokes with projecting rims, radiating from a circular hub also encircled by a flange. The five spokes signify five alloy metals, pancaloha.
These castings explain the significance of the symbol used on early punch-marked coins, referred to as Takshasila symbol.
Long concave silver bar, 48mm long, 9mm wide, struck with a 6-armed Gandharan symbol on each end. 11.4 grams. Rajgor 542.
Source: http://www.ancientcoins.ca/gandhara/gandhara.htm
These orthographic variants from cire perdue castings and early coins, signify are two hieroglyph components: spokes and twist (of strands of rope).
mēḍhā 'twist' rebus med 'iron' med 'copper' (Slavic) medhā 'dhana, yajna'
āra 'spokes'. Rebus: āra 'brass' as in ārakūṭa (Skt.) eraka 'knave of wheel' Rebus: Tu. eraka molten, cast (as metal); eraguni to melt (DEDR 866)
In Rigveda, the derived morpheme धातु [ dhātu ], derived from root dhā- is explained as 'strand of rope' or 'element': dhāˊtu n. ʻ substance ʼ RV., m. ʻ element ʼ MBh., ʻ metal, mineral, ore (esp. of a red colour) ʼ Mn., ʻ ashes of the dead ʼ lex., ʻ *strand of rope ʼ (cf.tridhāˊtu -- ʻ threefold ʼ RV., ayugdhātu -- ʻ having an uneven number of strands ʼ KātyŚr.). [√
In Rigveda, the root is explained as: धातु [p=513,3] m. layer , stratum Ka1tyS3r. Kaus3.constituent part , ingredient (esp. [ and in RV. only] ifc. , where often = " fold " e.g. त्रि-ध्/आतु , threefold &c ; cf. त्रिविष्टि- , सप्त- , सु-) RV. TS.S3Br. &c
धातु primary element of the earth i.e. metal , mineral , are (esp. a mineral of a red colour) Mn. MBh. &c element of words i.e. grammatical or verbal root or stem Nir. Pra1t. MBh. &c (with the southern Buddhists धातु means either the 6 elements [see above] Dharmas. xxv ; or the 18 elementary spheres [धातु-लोक] ib. lviii ; or the ashes of the body , relics L. [cf. -गर्भ]).
In compounds: त्रि--धातु [p= 458,3] mfn. consisting of 3 parts , triple , threefold (used like Lat. triplex to denote excessive) RV. S3Br. v , 5 , 5 , 6 m. (scil. पुरोड्/आश) N. of an oblation TS. ii , 3 , 6. 1 ( -त्व्/अ n. abstr.)m. गणे*श L.n. the aggregate of the 3 minerals or of the 3 humours W.
धा [ dhā ] ind (S) Time, turn, occasion. In comp. with the numerals; as
धावाकरी [ dhāvākarī ] m One constantly invoking a god (calling
धावडी [ dhāvaḍī ] a Relating to the class
धवड [ dhavaḍa ] m (Or
Dotted circles and three lines on the obverse of many Failaka/Dilmun seals are read rebus as hieroglyphs:
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A (गोटा) gōṭā Spherical or spheroidal, pebble-form. (Marathi) Rebus: khoṭā ʻalloyedʼ (metal) (Marathi) खोट [khōṭa] f A mass of metal (unwrought or of old metal melted down); an ingot or wedge (Marathi). P. khoṭ m. ʻalloyʼ (CDIAL 3931)
kolom ‘three’ (Mu.) Rebus: kolami ‘furnace, smithy’ (Telugu)
Thus, the seals are intended to serve as metalware catalogs from the smithy/forge. Details of the alloyed metalware are provided by the hieroglyphs of Indus writing on the reverse of the seal.
A (गोटा) gōṭā Spherical or spheroidal, pebble-form. (Marathi) Rebus: khoṭā ʻalloyedʼ (metal) (Marathi) खोट [khōṭa] f A mass of metal (unwrought or of old metal melted down); an ingot or wedge (Marathi). P. khoṭ m. ʻalloyʼ (CDIAL 3931)
kolom ‘three’ (Mu.) Rebus: kolami ‘furnace, smithy’ (Telugu)
Thus, the seals are intended to serve as metalware catalogs from the smithy/forge. Details of the alloyed metalware are provided by the hieroglyphs of Indus writing on the reverse of the seal.