A Million-Dollar Challenge to Crack the Script of Early Indians
Every week, Rajesh PN Rao, a computer scientist, receives emails from people claiming they’ve deciphered an ancient script that has baffled scholars for generations. These self-proclaimed codebreakers—ranging from engineers and IT workers to retirees—are mostly from India or of Indian origin living abroad. All of them are convinced they’ve cracked the script of the Indus Valley Civilization, a blend of signs and symbols. They insist they’ve solved it and that “the case is closed,” says Mr. Rao, Hwang Endowed Professor at the University of Washington.
Tamil Nadu’s Million-Dollar Prize
To make the challenge even more enticing, MK Stalin, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu state in southern India, announced a $1 million prize for anyone who can crack the code. The Indus, or Harappan, civilization emerged 5,300 years ago in what is now northwest India and Pakistan. Despite thriving for centuries, its greatest mystery remains its undeciphered script, which hides the language, governance, and beliefs of the society.
A Century of Unsolved Mysteries
For over a century, linguists, scientists, and archaeologists have attempted to decode the Indus script. Various theories have linked it to early Brahmi scripts, Dravidian and Indo-Aryan languages, and even Sumerian. Some claim it consists solely of political or religious symbols. However, its secrets remain locked away. “The Indus script is perhaps the most important system of writing that is undeciphered,” says Asko Parpola, a leading Indologist.
Spectacular Theories and Their Pitfalls
Many modern theories have suggested connections to Hindu scriptures, with spiritual and magical meanings. However, most of these theories overlook the fact that the script, primarily found on stone seals used for trade and commerce, is unlikely to contain religious or mythological content, according to Mr. Rao.
Challenges in Decoding the Indus Script
The challenges to deciphering the script are significant. Firstly, there are only about 4,000 known inscriptions, most of which are on small objects like seals, pottery, and tablets. The average length of each inscription is about five symbols, and there are no long texts, which makes it difficult to understand the context. In addition, there is no bilingual artifact like the Rosetta Stone to help compare the script to a known language.
Using Machine Learning to Decode Ancient Signs
Recent advances in deciphering the Indus script have incorporated computer science, using machine learning techniques to analyze patterns in the script. Researchers, including Nisha Yadav from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai, are applying statistical and computational methods to study the script. They have identified patterns, but it remains unclear whether the signs represent whole words, parts of words, or sentences.
Discoveries and New Insights into the Indus Script
One promising finding is that 67 signs account for 80% of the script. A particular sign, resembling a jar with two handles, is the most frequently used. Additionally, the scripts tend to start with a large number of signs and end with fewer. The researchers have even created a machine-learning model to restore damaged texts, aiding further research. “We believe the script is structured, and there is an underlying logic to its writing,” says Ms. Yadav.
Other Undeciphered Ancient Scripts
Several other ancient scripts remain undeciphered and face similar challenges. For example, Proto-Elamite (Iran), Linear A (Crete), and Etruscan (Italy) are all languages whose scripts are unknown. Other scripts, like Rongorongo (Easter Island) and Zapotec (Mexico), have known languages but unclear symbols. The Phaistos Disc from Crete also shares similarities with the Indus script—it has an unknown language, and only one example оf іt exists.
The Link Between Indus Valley and South India
In Tamil Nadu, the announcement of the $1 million reward has sparked interest in the script. This followed a study by K Rajan and R Sivananthan, who analyzed over 14,000 pottery fragments bearing graffiti signs that resemble those of the Indus script. Their findings suggest a cultural link between the Indus Valley and South India, with over 60% of the signs matching.
Why the Prize Might Not Be Claimed Soon
Many believe that Mr. Stalin’s announcement is aimed at promoting Tamil heritage and culture, positioning him as a counterpoint to the central government led by Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, researchers remain skeptical that the prize will attract successful claims anytime soon. Despite the existence of comprehensive databases of known inscriptions, the true content of the Indus script remains a mystery. “But what did the Indus people write? I wish we knew,” says Ms. Yadav.
