Sign 296 is a variant ofSign 287 'curve' hieroglyph and 'angle' hieroglyph (as seen on lozenge/rhombus/ovalshaped hieroglyphs). The basic orthograph of Sign 287 is signifiedby the semantics of: 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) कौटिलिकः kauṭilikḥ कौटिलिकः 1 A hunter.-2 A blacksmith. Sign 293 may be seen as a duplication (dula 'pair' rebus; dul 'metal casting') of Sign 287  The reading of Sign 293 is thus: dul kuṭila  metal casting of 'pewter'.

 Thus, the pair of signs Sign 123 and Sign 216 signify dhatu kuṭi , 'mineral ore smelter'.

Similarly,  the pair of signs Sign 123 and Sign 391 signify arka kuṭi 'smelter of goldsmith workshop' (portable crucible used also to process crucible steel).

Smelter  Sign 123 is also associated with Sign 137 or Sign 149 and variants which signify mineral ore; thus, the pair of signs Sign 123 and Sign 137 or Sign 149 signify mineral ore smelter:

FS 72 Fig. 108 Chanhudaro seal. Person kneeling under a tree facing a tiger. [Chanhudaro Excavations, Pl. LI, 18] 6118  Seal T-A-T ID 1743

Kneeling adorant: భక్తుడు. 'adorant, worshipper' rebus:  బత్తుడు battuḍu The caste title of all the five castes of artificers as వడ్లబత్తుడు a carpenter. కడుపుబత్తుడు one who makes a god of his belly. L. xvi. 230.  Five categories of artificers: పాంచాలము pāñcālamu pānchālamu. [Skt.] पंचाळ  pañcāḷa m (पांचाल S q. v.) A common term for five castes--सोनार, सुतार, लोहार, कांसार, पाथरवट. These all wear the जानवें.  (Marathi) பஞ்சகம்மாளர் pañca-kammāḷar, n. < pañcantaṭṭāṉ, kaṉṉāṉ, ciṟpaṉ, taccaṉ, kollaṉ; தட்டான், கன்னான், சிற்பன், தச்சன் கொல்லன் என்ற ஐவகைப் பட்ட கம்மாளர். (சங். அக.) அஞ்சுபஞ்சலத்தார் añcu-pañcalattār, n. < அஞ்சு + பஞ்சாளத்தார். Pañca-kammāḷar, the five artisan classes; பஞ்சகம்மாளர். (I. M. P. Cg. 371.) Rebus:phaḍa फड 'manufactory, company, guild' 

Feeding trough in front of cattle (even wild animals)  pattar 'feeding trough' rebus: pattar, బత్తుడు battuḍu 'a guild, title of goldsmiths'. Ta. paṭṭai painted stripe (as on a temple wall), piebald colour, dapple.Ma. paṭṭa stripe. Ka. paṭṭe, paṭṭi id. Koḍ. paṭṭe striped or spotted (as tiger or leopard); paṭṭati n.pr. of dappled cow. Tu. paṭṭè stripe. Te. paṭṭe stripe or streak of paint; paḍita stripe, streak, wale.(DEDR 3877) Ta. pātti bathing tub, watering trough or basin, spout, drain; pattal wooden bucket; pattar id., wooden trough for feeding animals. Ka. pāti basin for water round the foot of a tree. Tu. pāti trough or bathing tub, spout, drain. Te. pādi, pādu basin for water round the foot of a tree(DEDR 4079)

Rebus 1: pāṭaṇ maritime town, port: పట్ర paṭra paṭra. [Tel.] n. A village, a hamlet. పల్లెపట్ర villages and hamlets. H. iv. 108. paṭṭana n. ʻ town ʼ Kauṭ., °nī -- f. lex. 2. páttana -- n. MBh. [Prob. ← Drav. T. Burrow BSOAS xii 383 and EWA ii 192 with ṭṭ replaced by IA. tt. But its specific meaning as ʻ ferry ʼ in S. L. P. B. H. does lend support to its derivation by R. A. Hall in Language 12, 133 from *partana -- (√pr̥ ~ Lat. portus, &c.). Poss. MIA. pattana -- , paṭṭana -- ʻ *ferry ʼ has collided with Drav. loanword for ʻ town ʼ] 1. Pa. paṭṭana -- n. ʻ city ʼ, °aka -- n. ʻ a kind of village ʼ; Pk. paṭṭaṇa -- n. ʻ city ʼ; K. paṭan m. ʻ quarter of a town, name of a village 14 miles NW of Śrinagar ʼ; N. pāṭan ʻ name of a town in the Nepal Valley ʼ; B. pāṭan ʻ town, market ʼ; Or. pā̆ṭaṇā, °anā ʻ town, village, hamlet on outskirts of a big village ʼ; Bi. paṭnā ʻ name of a town ʼ; H. pāṭan m. ʻ town ʼ, G. pāṭaṇ n.; M. pāṭaṇ ʻ name of a town ʼ; Si. paṭuna ʻ town ʼ. -- Pa. paṭṭana -- n. ʻ harbour, port ʼ, Pk. paṭṭaṇa -- n.; H. paṭnī, pā̆ṭaunī, pāṭūnī m. ʻ ferryman ʼ; Si. paṭuna ʻ harbour, seaport ʼ.2. Pk. pattaṇa -- n. ʻ town ʼ, Si. patana. -- S. pataṇu m. ʻ ferry ʼ (whence pātaṇī m. ʻ ferryman ʼ, f. ʻ ferry boat ʼ); L. pattan, (Ju.) pataṇ m. ʻ ferry ʼ; P. pattaṇ ʻ ferry, landing -- place ʼ, pattaṇī, °tuṇī m. ʻ ferryman, one who lives near a ferry ʼ; B. pātanī ʻ ferryman ʼ.(CDIAL 7705)

The evidence relates to the semantics of worker in wood and iron. He is called बढई baḍhī.

बढई baḍhī m ( H) A carpenter. (Marathi)  పట్టడ paṭṭaḍa paṭṭaḍu. [Tel.] n. A smithy, a shop. కుమ్మరి వడ్లంగి మొదలగువారు పనిచేయు చోటు. వడ్రంగి, వడ్లంగి,వడ్లవాడు vaḍraṅgi, vaḍlaṅgi, vaḍlavāḍu or వడ్లబత్తుడు vaḍrangi. [Tel.] n. A carpenter. వడ్రంగము, వడ్లపని, వడ్రము or వడ్లంగితనము vaḍrangamu. n. The trade of a carpenter. వడ్లవానివృత్తి. వడ్రంగిపని. వడ్రంగిపిట్ట or వడ్లంగిపిట్ట vaḍrangi-piṭṭa. n. A woodpecker. దార్వాఘాటము. వడ్లకంకణము vaḍla-kankaṇamu. n. A curlew. ఉల్లంకులలో భేదము. వడ్లత or వడ్లది vaḍlata. n. A woman of the carpenter caste. vardhaki m. ʻ carpenter ʼ MBh. [√vardh] Pa. vaḍḍhaki -- m. ʻ carpenter, building mason ʼ; Pk. vaḍḍhaï -- m. ʻ carpenter ʼ, °aïa -- m. ʻ shoemaker ʼ; WPah. jaun. bāḍhōī ʻ carpenter ʼ, (Joshi) bāḍhi m., N. baṛhaï, baṛahi, A. bārai, B. bāṛaï, °ṛui, Or. baṛhaï, °ṛhāi, (Gaṛjād) bāṛhoi, Bi. baṛahī, Bhoj. H. baṛhaī m., M. vāḍhāyā m., Si. vaḍu -- vā.*vārdhaka -- .Addenda: vardhaki -- : WPah.kṭg. báḍḍhi m. ʻ carpenter ʼ; kṭg. bəṛhe\i, báṛhi, kc. baṛhe ← H. beside genuine báḍḍhi Him.I 135), J. bāḍhi, Garh. baṛhai, A. also bāṛhai AFD 94; Md. vaḍīn, vaḍin pl.(CDIAL 11375)  

"Bell-metal workshop. 

"Goldsmith workshop

 || 'metalcasting furnace'||| 'smithy furnace'|||| 'equipment furnace'

Sign 176Hieroglyph: currycomb: खरारा   kharārā m ( H) A currycomb. 2 Currying a horse. ख0 खाजवीत नगारा वाजवीत-येतो-फिरतो &c. Used of a low vagabond or idler.(Marathi)

7097 karã̄ n. pl.wristlets, banglesRebus: khãr 'blacksmith, ironsmith' PLUS dula 'two' rebus: dul 'metal casting' PLUS PLUS Sign 342 = kanda kanka

6128 ranku 'liquid measure' rebus: ranku 'tin ore' PLUS kūdī 'bunch of twigs' (Sanskrit) Rebus: kuṭhi 'smelter furnace' (Santali) .PLUS Sign 342 = kanda kanka

 6226 PLUS Sign 342 = kanda kanka

6214

1366 PLUS Sign 342 = kanda kanka

  Metal-/lapidary-artisanal products from blazing heat furnace under the charge of steersman.

1217 Seal with one-horned young bull mūhā mẽṛhẽt kolimi PLUS kunda singi 'finegold, ornament gold'PLUS konda 'fire-altar' kundakara m. ʻ turner ʼ W. [Cf. *cundakāra -- : kunda -- 1, kará -- 1]A. kundār, B. kũdār, ˚ri, Or. kundāru; H. kũderā m. ʻ one who works a lathe, one who scrapes ʼ, ˚rī f., kũdernā ʻ to scrape, plane, round on a lathe ʼ(CDIAL 3297) PLUS 

mūhā mẽṛhẽt kolimi = Smithy/forge (in which) iron is smelted by the Kolhes and formed into an equilateral lump a little pointed at each of four ends (Santali) 

1279 Seal with one-horned young bull kasērā ʻmetal workerʼ PLUS कर्णिक 'steersman, helmsman' PLUS  kunda singi 'finegold, ornament gold' PLUS konda 'fire-altar' kundakara m. ʻ turner ʼ W. [Cf. *cundakāra -- : kunda -- 1, kará -- 1]A. kundār, B. kũdār, ˚ri, Or. kundāru; H. kũderā m. ʻ one who works a lathe, one who scrapes ʼ, ˚rī f., kũdernā ʻ to scrape, plane, round on a lathe ʼ(CDIAL 3297) PLUS Sign48 = bharata (copper-zinc-tin alloy)

Sign48 = bharata (copper-zinc-tin alloy)

 || 'metalcasting furnace'

||| 'smithy furnace'

|||| 'equipment furnace'

At times 'rim-of-jar' hieroglyph is further elucidated by the addition of the 'currycomb' hieroglyph to signify: kharada खरडें daybook (wealth acounting classification ledger).

Decipherment of three miniature tablets of Harappa:

Backbone, rib cage

Sign 48. kaśēru ‘the backbone’ (Bengali. Skt.); kaśēruka id. (Skt.) Rebus: kasērāʻmetal workerʼ (Lahnda)(CDIAL 2988, 2989) Spine, rib-cage: A comparable glyptic representation is on a seal published by Omananda Saraswati. In Pl. 275: Omananda Saraswati 1975. Ancient Seals of Haryana (in Hindi). Rohtak.” (I. Mahadevan, 'Murukan' in the Indus Script, The Journal of the Institute of Asian Studies, March 1999). B.B. Lal, 1960. From Megalithic to the Harappa: Tracing back the graffiti on pottery. Ancient India, No.16, pp. 4-24. baraḍo = spine; backbone (Tulu) Rebus: baran, bharat 'mixed alloys' (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin) (Punjabi) bhārata,'a factitious alloy of pewter, copper, tin'. 

Hieroglyphs: backbone + four short strokes

Signs 47, 48: baraḍo = spine; backbone (Tulu) Rebus: baran, bharat ‘mixed alloys’ (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin) (Punjabi) +

gaṇḍa ‘four’ Rebus: kaṇḍ ‘fire-altar’. Thus, Sign 48 reads rebus: bharat kaṇḍ ‘fire-altar’, furnace for mixed alloy called bharat (copper, zinc, tin alloy),

‘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).

Sign 328 baṭa 'rimless pot' rebus:bhaṭa ‘furnace’.baṭa 'iron'. Thus, iron furnace.

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.

m1202 Seal

 m1202

  

Rebus reading of plain text: ṭhaṭṭha brass PLUS dul mũhã̄ khār koḍ 'metal casting ingot blacksmith' PLUS meḍ koḍ 'iron workshop'. Thus, brass, iron workshop of blacksmith for producing metalcasting ingots.

||||| Hieroglyph: Five linear strokes: taṭṭal'five' Rebus: ṭhaṭṭha brass; 

Sign 408 karã'wristlets' rebus:khār 'blacksmith PLUS koDa 'one'




rebus: koD 'workshop'. Alternative, semantic determinative:  mũhã̄ 'bun ingot PLUS dula 'pair' rebus: dul 'metal casting'; khār 'blacksmith  PLUS 



koḍ 'workshop'.Thus, brass ingot blacksmith metal casting workshop.








Sign 25 Ma. ṭaṅkam mace. Ka. ṭaṅke, ḍaṅke, ḍaṅgi, ḍaṅge staff, cudgel, etc. (DEDR 2940) PLUS meD 'body' rebus: meD 'iron'. Thus, the mace or staff carried by the standing person identifies him to be a worker in  ṭaṅka  Thus, Sign 25 signifies 'mint' meḍ  ṭaṅka 'iron mint'.



Alternative rebus readings of Sign 25: meḍ koḍ 'iron workshop' OR  kāṭhī + kāṭi 'body stature; Rebus: fireplace trench.


Ligature hieroglyph: 'stick' or 'one'



Sign1 Hieroglyph: काठी [ kāṭhī ] f (काष्ट S)  (or शरीराची काठी) The frame or structure of the body: also (viewed by some as arising from the preceding sense, Measuring rod) stature (Marathi) B. kāṭhā ʻ measure of length ʼ(CDIAL 3120).H. kāṭhī 'wood' f.  G. kāṭh n. ʻ wood ʼ, °ṭhī f. ʻ stick, measure of 5 cubits ʼ(CDIAL 3120). + kāṭi 'body stature; Rebus: fireplace trench.The 'stick' hieroglyph is a phonetic reinforcement of 'body stature' hieroglyph. Alternatively,  koḍ 'one' Rebus:  koḍ 'workshop'+ kāṭi 'body stature; Rebus: fireplace trench.. Thus, workplace of furnace fire-trench.


Sign 25         53 Sign 25 ciphertext is composed of Sign 1 and Sign 86. mē̃ḍ 'body' rebus: mē̃ḍ ‘iron’ (Mu.)Hypertext reads in a constructed Meluhha expression: mē̃ḍ koḍ 'iron workshop'.

Field symbol:'

barad, barat 'ox' Rebus: bharat 'alloy of copper, pewter, tin' (Marathi)  भरत   bharata n A factitious metal compounded of copper, pewter, tin भरती   bharatī a Composed of the metal भरत. भरताचें भांडें   bharatācē mbhāṇḍēṃ n A vessel made of the metal भरत.
pattar 'trough' Rebus: pattar 'goldsmith guild'

Text segment 1:

Sign 373 signifies mũhã̄'bun ingot' 

Text segment 2:

karã'wristlets' rebus:khAr 'blacksmith'
 ē̃ṣṭrĭ̄  'flying squirrel' rebus: śrēṣṭhin 'foreman of a guild'.

kaNDA kanka 'equipment supercrgo'

Text segment 3:

maĩd ʻrude harrow or clod breakerʼ (Marathi) rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ 'iron'

bhaTa 'warrior' Rebus: bhaTa 'furnace',baTa 'iron'

kanka 'rim of jar' rebus: karṇika 'scribe'(Sanskrit)कारणी or कारणीक kāraṇī or kāraṇīka a (कारण S)

 That causes, conducts, carries on, manages. 

Applied to the prime minister of a state, the supercargo of a ship (Marathi) PLUS kanda 'jar'

rebus: kanda 'fire-altar', konda 'fire-altar, kiln'rebus:kanda 'equipment'. 

Thus, kaNDA kanka 'equipment supercrgo' .

taṭṭal'five' rebus:   5491 *ṭhaṭṭha ʻ brass ʼ. [Onom. from noise of hammering brass?

 -- *ṭhaṭṭh -- ] N. ṭhaṭṭar ʻ an alloy of copper and bell metal ʼ.*ṭhaṭṭhakara -- , 

*ṭhaṭṭhakāra -- .*ṭhaṭṭhakāra ʻ brass worker ʼ. 2. *ṭhaṭṭhakara -- . [*ṭhaṭṭha -- 1, 

kāra -- 1]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 5492, 5493)

Decipherment of m1202 epigraph:

Sign 403 karã̄ n. pl. wristlets, bangles Rebus: khAr 'blacksmith, iron worker'.



Hypertext of Indus Script: šē̃ṣṭrĭ̄  'flying squirrel' rebus: śrēṣṭhin 'foreman of a guild'.

kanda kanka 'rim of pot' Rebus: khaNDa 'implements' karNI 'supercargo, scribe'; 

Hieroglyph: harrow: maĩd ʻrude harrow or clod breakerʼ (Marathi) rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ 'iron'

bhaTa 'warrior' Rebus: bhaTa 'furnace';  kanda kanka 'rim of pot' Rebus: khaNDa 'implements' karNI 'supercargo, scribe'; muhA 'ingot, quantity of iron ore smelted out of the smelter'.

Space on the side of the seal was used to inscribe a third line

Evidence of the guild-master presented in 

Guild-master’s Indus Script Inscription (m304) deciphered. Hypertext khāra, šē̃ṣṭrĭ̄ 'squirrel’ is plaintext khār 'blacksmith' śrēṣṭhin 'guild-master' (Aitareya Brāhmaṇa) 

https://tinyurl.com/y9ug5h9y) After presenting a long catalogue of metalwork done, the documentation is signed off by the guild-master: hieroglyph: khāra, šē̃ṣṭrĭ̄ 'squirrel’ rebus: śrēṣṭhin 'guild-master'. 

Similarly, thousands of Indus Script inscriptions are signed off by the scribe (signified by 'rim of jar' hieroglyph, Sign 342).

h771 Decipherment of h771:

dula 'pair' Rebus: dul 'cast metal' muhA 'ingot' (Together, dul muhA  'cast iron ingot'); 

tuttha 'squirrel' Rebus: tuttha 'pewter, zinc alloy'; dula 'two' Rebus: dul 'cast metal or casting'. Thus, the epigraph with three hieroglyph-multiplexes read rebus: metal castings, cast metal ingot, pewter-zinc alloy.

barad, balad 'ox' rebusbharat (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin)



(Punjabi) PLUS pattar 'feeding-trough' rebus:pattar 'goldsmith guild'



meD 'body' rebus: meD 'iron'



karNaka 'rim of jar' rebus:karNaka 'helmsman'



taṭṭal 'five' rebus:   5491 *ṭhaṭṭha1 ʻ brass ʼ. [Onom. from noise of hammering brass? -- *ṭhaṭṭh -- ] N. ṭhaṭṭar ʻ an alloy of copper and bell metal ʼ.*ṭhaṭṭhakara -- , *ṭhaṭṭhakāra -- .*ṭhaṭṭhakāra ʻ brass worker ʼ. 2. *ṭhaṭṭhakara -- . [*ṭhaṭṭha -- 1, kāra -- 1]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 5492, 5493)



dula 'pair'rebus; dul 'metal casting' PLUS muh 'oval bun-ingot shape' rebus: muh 'ingot'. Thus, ingot metalcasting.





Sign 408 karã'wristlets' rebus:khAr 'blacksmith PLUS koDa 'one' rebus: koD 'workshop'





dhal 'slant' rebus: dhalako large ingot'; PLUS खांडा [ khāṇḍā ] m A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon). (Marathi) Rebus: khāṇḍā 'tools, pots and pans' .Thus, ingots and equipment.







sal 'splinter' rebus: sal 'workshop'




dula 'pair' rebus; dul 'metal casting' PLUS kaNDa 'arrow' rebus: khāṇḍā 'tools, pots and pans' .Thus, ingots and equipment.

Cargo bill of lading signified on Mohenjo-daro boat prism tablet



Ka. tār̤ palmyra or toddy palm, Borassus flabelliformis. Tu. tāri, tāḷi id. Te. tāḍu, (inscr., Inscr.2) tār̤u id.; tāṭi of or belonging to the palmyra tree; tāṭi ceṭṭu palmyra tree; tāṭ-āku palmleaf. Kol. (Kin.) tāṭi māk palmyra tree. Nk. tāṛ māk/śeṭṭ toddy palm. Nk. (Ch.) tāṛ id. Pa. tāṛ id. Ga. (S.3) tāṭi palmyra palm. Go. (G. Ma. Ko.) tāṛ, (S.) tāṛi, (A.) tāḍi toddy palm; (SR.) tādī kal palm liquor (Voc. 1709). Konḍa ṭāṛ maran, ṭāṭi maran palmyra tree. Pe. tāṛ mar toddy palm. Kuwi (Su.) tāṭi mārnu, (S.) tāti id. Kur. tāṛ palm tree. Malt. tálmi Borassus flabelliformis. / Cf. Skt. tāla-, Pkt. tāḍa-, tāla-; Turner, CDIAL, no. 5750 (some of the Dr. items may be < IA).(DEDR 3180)*tāḍa3 ʻ fan -- palm ʼ, tāḍī -- 2 f. in tāḍī -- puṭa -- ʻ palm -- leaf ʼ Kād., tāla -- 2 m. ʻ Borassus flabelliformis ʼ Mn., tālī -- , ˚lakī -- f. ʻ palm -- wine ʼ W. [Cf. hintāla -- ]Pa. tāla -- m. ʻ fan -- palm ʼ, Pk. tāḍa -- , tāla -- , tala -- m., tāḍī -- , tālī -- f., K. tāl m., P. tāṛ m., N. tār (tāṛ ← H.), A. tāl, B. tāṛ, Or. tāṛa, tāṛi, tāḷa, Bi. tār, tāṛ, OAw. tāra, H. G. tāṛ m., M. tāḍ m., Si. tala. -- Gy. gr. taró m., tarí f. ʻ rum ʼ, rum. tari ʻ brandy ʼ, pal. tar ʻ date -- spirit ʼ; S. tāṛī f. ʻ juice of the palmyra ʼ; P. tāṛī ʻ the fermented juice ʼ; N. tāṛī ʻ id., yeast ʼ (← H.); A. tāri ʻ the fermented juice ʼ, B. Or. tāṛi, Bi. tārī, tāṛī, Bhoj. tāṛī; H. tāṛī f. ʻ the juice, the fermented juice ʼ; G. tāṛī f. ʻ the juice ʼ, M. tāḍī f. <-> X hintāla -- q.v.tālavr̥nta -- ; *madatāḍikā -- .Addenda: tāḍa -- 3: S.kcch. tāṛ m. ʻ palm tree ʼ. (CDIAL 5750)5752a †*tāḍarukṣa -- ʻ palmyra palm ʼ. [tāḍa -- 3, rukṣá -- ]


Md. tāruk ʻ palmyra ʼ.

Rebus: iron bar: tāḍa2, ˚aka -- m. ʻ latch ʼ BHSii 251, tāla -- , ˚aka -- m. ʻ latch, bolt ʼ lex., tālikā -- f. ʻ bar ʼ Hariv. [Tam. tār̤ ʻ bar, bolt, latch ʼ, etc. DED 2598; but in NIA. meanings ʻ mallet, etc. ʼ prob. same as tāˊḍa -- 1]Pa. tāḷa -- m. ʻ door -- bar ʼ; Pk. tāla -- , ˚aya -- n. ʻ bolt ʼ; Kho. taḷ ʻ bolt ʼ, taḷo don ʻ canine tooth ʼ; K. tôru m. ʻ bolt ʼ; S. tāṛo m. ʻ cotton -- scutcher's mallet ʼ, tāṛī f. ʻ bar or bolt of door ʼ; L. tāṛ f. ʻ part of driving wheel of spinning wheel ʼ, tāṛā m. ʻ cotton -- scutcher's mallet ʼ; P. tāṛ f. ʻ cock's spur ʼ, tāṛā m. ʻ cotton -- scutcher's mallet, piece of bamboo on a string beaten against a tree to scare birds ʼ, tālā m. ʻ lock ʼ; Ku. tālo m. ʻ hot iron bar for scorching belly of newborn infant, lock ʼ, tālī ʻ lock ʼ, gng. tāu, tāi ʻ lock ʼ; B. tāṛā ʻ door -- bar ʼ, tālā ʻ lock ʼ (→ Or. tālā), H. tālā m. ʻ lock ʼ (→ Bi. N. tālā; M. tālā m. ʻ padlock ʼ), tālī, tārī f. ʻ key ʼ; Marw. tāḷo m. ʻ lock ʼ, G. tāḷũ n., M. ṭāḷẽ n. -- Si. talaya ʻ the blade of any instrument ʼ rather < tala -- .Addenda: tāḍa -- 2: S.kcch. tāṛo m. ʻ lock ʼ, Md. taḷu. (CDIAL 5749)

Side A of prism tablet. Three pairs of hieroglyphs shown are: 1.black drongo; 2.palm tree; 3. ox-hide type shield 

The three cargo items on bill of lading are Meluhha rebus renderings of: 1) steel metal castings; 2) Metalcastings of Iron bars; and 3) metalcastings of large metal ingots.

These three categories constitute the cargo on the Mohenjo-daro prism tablet.

The three pairs of hieroglyphs on side 1 of the tablet are:

1. black drongo'

2. palm tree

3. ox-hide sape large ingots

The rebus readings start with pairing as a rebus signifier:  dula 'pair' rebus: dul 'metalcasting'.

Thus, the following three types of metalcastings constitute the cargo on the boat:

1. poladu పోలడు 'black drongo' rebus: poladu 'steel'पोलाद pōlāda n ( or P) Steel. पोलादी a Of steel. (Marathi) bulad 'steel, flint and steel .Thus, dul पोलाद pōlāda 'metalcasting of steel.'

2. tāṛ palm tree rebus: tāṛā m. ʻcotton -- scutcher's malletʼ; tālo m. ʻhot iron bar for scorching belly of newborn infant, lockʼ. Thus dul tālo 'metalcasting of iron bars'

3.ḍhālako 'large ox-hide shaped ingot' Rebus:  ḍhāla n. ʻ shield ʼ lex. 2. *ḍhāllā -- .1. Tir. (Leech) "dàl"ʻ shield ʼ, Bshk. ḍāl, Ku. ḍhāl, gng. ḍhāw, N. A. B. ḍhāl, Or. ḍhāḷa, Mth. H. ḍhāl m.2. Sh. ḍal (pl. ˚le̯) f., K. ḍāl f., S. ḍhāla, L. ḍhāl (pl. ˚lã) f., P. ḍhāl f., G. M. ḍhāl f.Addenda: ḍhāla -- . 2. *ḍhāllā -- : WPah.kṭg. (kc.) ḍhāˋl f. (obl. -- a) ʻ shield ʼ (a word used in salutation), J. ḍhāl f.(CDIAL 5583). Thus dul ḍhālako 'metalcastings of large ingots' 

Sign 375 conveys the message: mūhā mẽṛhẽt kolimi = Smithy/forge (in which) iron is smelted by the Kolhes and formed into an equilateral lump a little pointed at each of four ends (Santali) Sign 387 uses Sign 373 as a circumscript upon kolmo 'rice plant' rebus:kolimi 'smithy, forge'. ||| three linear strokes next to Sign 375 is a semantic determinative: kolom 'three' rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'.

Sign 389

Circumscript is a hieroglyph read rebus: khaḍā ‘circumscribe’ (M.); Rebs: khaḍā ‘nodule (ore), stone’ (M.) This is also a semantic determinative of the stone-like nature of the ingot processed further in a smithy/forge to produce metal implements.

Sign 389 may be a variant of kolimi 'smithy/forge', maybe, pasara 'smithy' where artisans work on  kaṇḍe A head or ear of millet or maize (Telugu) Rebus: kaṇḍa ‘stone (ore)(Gadba)’ Ga. (Oll.) kanḍ, (S.) kanḍu (pl. kanḍkil) stone (DEDR 1298).  OR, Sign 389 may signify a bar of metal which like an ingot is further processed in a forge.This is read rebus: kor̤u 'sprout' rebus: kor̤u 'bar of metal' (processed further in the forge to produce equipments)

खोट (p. 212) [ khōṭa ] f A mass of metal (unwrought or of old metal melted down); an ingot or wedge. (Marathi) PLUS खांडा khāṇḍā A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon).  khaṇḍa 'implements'. PLUD dula 'pair'  rebus: dul 'metal casting'.

Sign 389 is a cicumscript enclosing sprout.

Sign 373 .Side B of the prism tablet shows a field symbol of a crocodile catching a fish on its jaws. The rebus reading is: ayakara, 'metal alloysmith'. aya 'fish' rebus: ayas 'alloy metal' PLUS kāru a wild crocodile or alligator (Telugu) ghariyal id. kāru 'crocodile' (Telugu) கராம் karām, n. prob. grāha. 1. A species of alligator; முதலைவகை. முதலையு மிடங்கருங் கராமும் (குறிஞ்சிப். 257). 2. Male alligator; ஆண் முதலை. (திவா.) కారుమొసలి a wild crocodile or alligator. (Telugu) Rebus: kāru ‘artisan’ (Marathi) kāruvu 'artisan' (Telugu) khār 

'blacksmith' (Kashmiri)  
I suggest that this is a variant of Sign 375 

m1281 2266

S. baṭhu m. ‘large pot in which grain is parched, Rebus; bhaṭṭhā m. ‘kiln’ (P.) baṭa = a kind of iron (G.) Vikalpa: meṛgo = rimless vessels (Santali) bhaṭa ‘furnace’ (G.) baṭa = kiln (Santali); baṭa = a kind of iron (G.) bhaṭṭha -- m.n. ʻ gridiron (Pkt.) baṭhu large cooking fire’ baṭhī f. ‘distilling furnace’; L. bhaṭṭh m. ‘grain—parcher's oven’, bhaṭṭhī f. ‘kiln, distillery’, awāṇ. bhaṭh; P. bhaṭṭh m., ṭhī f. ‘furnace’, bhaṭṭhā m. ‘kiln’; S. bhaṭṭhī keṇī ‘distil (spirits)’. (CDIAL 9656) Rebus: meḍ iron (Ho.) PLUS  muka 'ladle' rebus; mū̃h 'ingot', quantity of metal got out of a smelter furnace (Santali).Thus, this hieroglyph-multiplex (hypertext) signifies: iron ingot.

[fish = aya (G.); crocodile = kāru (Telugu)] Rebus: ayakāra ‘ironsmith’ (Pali) khār 1 खार् । लोहकारः m. (sg. abl. khāra 1 खार; the pl. dat. of this word is khāran 1 खारन्, which is to be distinguished from khāran 2, q.v., s.v.), a blacksmith, an iron worker (cf. bandūka-khār, p. 111b, l. 46; K.Pr. 46; H. xi, 17); a farrier (El.). This word is often a part of a name, and in such case comes at the end (W. 118) as in Wahab khār, Wahab the smith (H. ii, 12; vi, 17).

Side C

The text message on the Mohenjo-daro boat tablet has two segments: Boat Cargo Bill of lading Segment 1; Boat Cargo Bill of lading Segment 2 

Segment 2:Sign 59 aya 'fish' rebus: ayas 'alloy metal'.

On Segment 2, Sign 375 reads rebus: dul 'metalcasting' khanda 'implements'

PLUS (circumscript) mūhāmẽṛhẽt kolimi(from)ingotsmithy.
PLUS
ayas कर्णिक 'alloy metal steersman'

Sign 342 kana kanka  (कर्णिक )'rim-of-jar' rebus: khanda 'implements' rebus: karṇī 'supercargo, scribe' कर्णिक 'steersman, helmsman' 

Segment 1:medho karnika 'steersman's helper merchant'

Sign 1 meḍ 'body' rebus: meḍ 'iron' med 'copper' (Slavic) PLUS dāma ‘fetter’ rebus: meḍ dhā̆vaḍ  ‘iron smelter’  Circumscript: dula 'two' rebus: dul 'metalcasting'. Thus, cast iron. meḍ ‘body’ rebus: mẽṛhẽt ‘metal’, meḍ‘iron, copper (red ores)’ (Mu. Ho. Slavic) < mr̥du ‘iron’ mr̥id ‘earth, clay, loam’ (Samskrtam) (Semantic determinative of ‘ferrite ore’).(Deśīnāmamālā) 

h1757 Seal impression of a Seal with Sign 127

मेंढा [ mēṇḍhā ] A crook or curved end (of a stick, horn &c.) Rebus 1: meḍ 'iron' (Ho.Mu.) Rebus 2: medho 'helper of a merchant'.

m0571 copper tablet

Horned elephant.  Almost similar to the  composition: Body of a ram (with inlaid ‘heart’ sign),  horns of a bull, trunk of an  elephant, hindlegs of a tiger  and an upraised serpent-like tail 

Text message: 

dula'two' rebus: dul'metal casting' PLUS aya 'fish' rebus: ayas 'alloy metal' Thus, metal castings of alloy metal.

dula 'two' rebus: dul 'metal casting' PLUSmaĩd ʻrude harrow or clod breakerʼ (Marathi) rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ'iron'. PLUS

कूदीf. a bunch of twigs , bunch (v.l. कूट्/ई) AV. v , 19 , 12 Kaus3. accord. to Kaus3. , Sch. = बदरी, "Christ's thorn".(Monier-Williams) Rebus: kuThi 'smelter'. Thus, smelter used for iron metal castings. OR, pajhar'sprout' rebus: pasra'smithy'. Thus smithy for iron metal castings. OR, 

Ta. kor̤untu tender twig, tendril, tender leaf, shoot, anything young, tenderness; kor̤umai freshness (as of shoots), beauty; kor̤untaṉ husband, husband's younger brother; kor̤unti wife's sister, brother's wife; kor̤unaṉ husband; kur̤a young, tender; kur̤akaṉ youth, beautiful person, Skanda; kur̤aku youthfulness, beauty, infant; kur̤antai infant, childhood; kur̤avi infant, young of certain animals, young of the vegetable kingdom; kur̤avu tender age, juvenility; kur̤ai (-pp-, -tt-) to cause to sprout or shoot forth; n. tender leaf, sprout, shoot. Ma. kor̤unnu, kor̤untu tender twig, young shoot, new-grown hair. To. kwïζ twig. Ka. koḍa tenderness, tender age, youth; koṇasu young one of wild beasts. Tu. korè weak, small. Kor. (O. T.) korayi, (M.) kori husband; (O. M. T.) korti wife. Te. krotta (in cpds. kro-) new, fresh; koḍuku son; koṇḍika child; kodama the young of any animal; young; komma maiden, female; kōḍalu daughter-in-law; kōṭramu, kōḍaṇṭramu, kōḍaṇṭrikamu, kōḍaṟikamu the position and duties of a daughter-in-law, daughter-in-lawship. Kol. kovve young of bird or animal; koral younger brother's wife; kommal (pl. kommasil) daughter. Nk. kovve young of bird or animal; koraḷ daughter-in-law, bride; kommaḷ (pl. kommaśil) daughter. Nk. (Ch.) komma daughter; kola bride, son's wife, younger brother's wife. Pa. koṛ very young; koṛuŋg new shoot, sprout; koṛc- to sprout; koṛol bride. Ga. (Oll.) koṛal son's wife, younger brother's wife; (S) koḍus-, koḍc- to sprout; (P.) koṛuŋ young shoot. Go. (Tr.) kōṛsānā, kōrsānā to sprout, grow (of trees, plants, etc.); (A. Mu. Ma. S.) koṛs- to sprout (Voc. 945); (Mu.) koṛk-ila new leaf; (Ko.) koṛi leaf-shoot (Voc. 934); (Ma.) koṛta month of Bhadrā (Aug.-Sept.) when new paddy is worshipped (Voc. 940); (Tr.) koriāṛ son's wife; tammur-koriāṛ younger brother's wife; (W.) koṛiāṛ daughter-in-law; (Mu.) koṛiyaṛ id., sister's daughter, younger brother's wife (Voc. 936); (Koya Su.) koḍiyāḍ daughter-in-law, sister's daughter (of a male); (ASu.) koṛkēlā tender, young. Konḍa koṛo (pl. -k) female child, (pl. -r) male child; koṛonali a nursing mother; koṛya daughter-in-law, younger brother's wife; koṛesi daughter-in-law (when referring to the 3rd person); (BB) kodma male buffalo calf (< Te.). Pe. koṛiya gāṛ son's wife, younger brother's wife; kṛogi fresh, new (of leaves). Manḍ. kṛugdi id.; kuṛiya gāṛ son's wife, younger borther's wife. Kui koṛgi newly sprouted, green, immature, unripe; koṛgari (pl. koṛgai) new shoot, fresh stalk, something green, immature, or unripe; kōṛu new shoot, fresh stalk, stem, or bud; new, green, immature; kōṛa a shoot, sprout, first sprout (of paddy after planting); kōṛa koḍa to sprout (of paddy); kōna bud; gōṇi sprout, offshoot; kuṛa, kṛua,(Letchmajee) kṛuha wife. Kuwi (P.) kuṛia, (F.) 
kūria daughter-in-law; (Ḍ.) kuṛva younger brother's wife; (F.) khrogi kōma a soft twig (i.e. soft, young, tender; for kōma, see 2115); (Ṭ.) koṛgi young (of children); (Isr.) kṛōgi immature, young. Kur. xōr leaf-bud, new leaves, fresh and tender leaves of vegetables; xōrnā (xūryā) to shoot out new leaves; korrā fresh (recently made, prepared, or obtained), pure. Malt. qóro infant, Indian corn when green; qóroce to sprout. Br. xarring to sprout; xarrun green, blue, black and blue; fruitful; xarrunī greenness; wife. Cf. 3650 Ta. nāy, for -kuṛi, etc., in Konḍa, Kui, Kuwi. / Cf. Skt. kora-, koraka- bud (Turner, CDIAL, no. 3527); kuṇaka- a new-born animal; kuḍaka- child (epic; Burrow, Belvalkar Felicitation Volume, pp. 6 f.; cf. Turner, CDIAL, no. 3245); kuḍmala-, kuṭmala- filled with buds, bud (epic, kāvya; Turner, CDIAL, no. 3250); Turner, CDIAL, no. 3249, *kuḍma- bud.(DEDR 2149) kōraka m.n. ʻ bud ʼ R. [← Drav. (Tam. kuṟai ʻ sprout ʼ, Kui kōṛu ʻ bud ʼ) EWA i 272]Pa. kōraka -- m.n. ʻ bud, sheath ʼ; Pk. kōraya -- , ˚rava<-> m.n. ʻ bud ʼ; Si. kuru ʻ bud, tender leavesʼ.Addenda: kōraka -- [← Drav. see kuḍmalá -- Add2] (CDIAL 327)

Rebus: bar of metal:: Ta. kor̤u bar of metal, ploughshare. Ma. kor̤u ploughshare. Ko. kov iron point of plough. To. ku· ploughshare (< Badaga gü·, Language 15.47; the word occurs only in one passage and the meaning is arrived at by etymology). Ka. kur̤a, kur̤u, gur̤a, gur̤u ploughshare, iron used in cauterizing. Tu. koru a bar of metal.(DEDR 2147)

kaNDa kanka 'equipment supercrgo'

Field symbol: phaḍa 'cobra hood' rebus: phaḍa, paṭṭaḍe 'metals workshop' PLUS  karibha, ibha 'elephant' rebus: karba, ib 'iron'; PLUS koD 'horns' rebus: koD 'workshop'. Thus,iron workshop in  metals manufactory.