Seals
- Though most seals were square shaped, it was found that triangular, rectangular and circular seals were also used.
- Steatite was the most common material used to make seals.
- Most of the seals have inscriptions in a pictographic script which is not yet deciphered.
- The script was written mostly from right to left, but a bidirectional writing style was also present.
- The common animal motifs were unicorn, humped bull, rhinoceros, tiger, elephant, buffalo, bison, goat, markour, ibex, crocodile, etc and. There was no evidence of a cow or a horse.
- Seals were primarily used for commercial purposes and helped in communication. The discovery of various seals in Mesopotamia and various sites such as Lothal indicate that the seals were extensively used for trade.
- Seals with symbols similar to the ‘Swastika’ design have also been found.
- Pashupati Seal
- Found at Mohenjo-daro.
- Depicts a human figure or a deity sitting cross-legged.
- The figure, referred to as Pashupati, wears a three-horned headgear and is surrounded by animals.
- An elephant and a tiger are there on the left side of the figure while a rhinoceros and a buffalo are seen on the right side.
- Two antelopes are shown below the seat of the figure
- Pashupati Seal
Pic Credit – Wikimedia Commons
Pottery
- The IVC pottery was usually plain, Red and Black Pottery.
- Trees, birds, animal figures and geometrical patterns were the recurring themes of the paintings.
- Most of the potteries that have been found are fine wheel-made wares.