Indus script
As Indus script refers to the corpus of script-like symbols of the Indus Valley Civilization. These characters were (about 2500-1900 BC) on various objects while using the urban phase of the Indus Valley Civilization. With the end of the urban phase of the Indus culture disappeared as suddenly as they had entered appearance. Until the advent of the Brahmi script (from about the 3rd century BC ) has long remained the only font of the Indian subcontinent. The characters have not yet been deciphered. Her character as the font is controversial.
Details
Origin
The origin of the Indus script is so far not been definitely identified. There are indications that they might have common origins with the proto- Elamite script. Perhaps the complex writing system in the transitional period of the proto- urban to urban phase ( ~ 26 century BC) developed from single, detectable to use ceramic characters.
System
So far, it is assumed that there is a logo graphic font, similar to the Proto writings in southwestern Iran and southern Iraq could have met each one word a character when. The number of different characters is estimated to be several hundred. A lively discussion is guided to the exact number, because in many cases it is unclear whether various characters are variations of the same character or in each case should be considered an independent symbols.
Use
Representations of logograms are primarily found on the mostly rectangular stamp seals of the Indus Valley Civilization and to a lesser extent on seal impressions thereof, and copper plates and metal objects. A total of approximately 2,900 objects have been recovered from various excavations in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and localities West of Central Asia.
End
With the end of the urban phase of partialisation and regionalization of the communities of the Indian subcontinent breaks from around 1900 BC, as well as the uniform system of weights and the tradition of the Indus seal the tradition of using the writing system completely.
Deciphering
It has not yet been able to decipher a larger character string, which is due to the brevity of the inscriptions found. Even in basic points, such as the language family, consists of the research so far no agreement. Possible candidates were previously Indo-European, the Sumerian, Egyptian, Malayo - Polynesian, as well as the Dravidian. The latter is currently the most supporters. All in all, since the first publications on this topic in the 1920s in deciphering the writing little progress. This led to speculation that it is not a conventional writing in the Indus script. A newer, computer-based study from 2009, published in the journal Science, favors the starting presumption is that it is a font.