Image: Lynn Fawcett
Image: Lynn Fawcett

This is a pictograph of a measuring rod. There are ten spaces which gives us ten units of measurement. However, you should note that the marks between the spaces are diagonal rather than horizontal. This indicates that the measurement is estimated rather than precise. Therefore, the suggested translation for this Indus sign is 'roughly ten units'.


Illustrative Text Reference:

Ganweriwala: Clay tablet: Excavation number: Gwr1: Farzand Masih, 2018: Ganweriwala - A new Perspective: Walking with the Unicorn: Cited in: Glimpses of Ganweriwala, 2019: https://www.harappa.com/blog/glimpses-ganweriwala: Accessed: 21 May, 2019.

 

Comments:

Gwr1 is described as a tablet. However, the direction of text in the photograph indicates that it may have been used as a seal.

 

There is only one extant example of this Indus sign.

 

The inscription refers to a devotee or student of yoga. This suggests that the symbol might have been a play on words and could be read as 'long stretch'.


Image Credit:

Roughly Ten Units: Lynn Fawcett, 2019.