THE INDUS SCRIPT Recognition as an alphabet

THE INDUS SCRIPT Recognition as an alphabet | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article THE INDUS SCRIPT Recognition as an alphabet Mahaveer H Muhammad Abro This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6801050/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study introduces a novel structural analysis of the Indus script (c. 3300 − 1900 BCE) to determine if it represents an alphabetic system. Unlike previous methods, this research focuses on the inherent structural properties of over 400 Indus signs to precisely quantify the primary constituent signs. Through a new grid-based decomposition, compound signs were visually dissected, consistent diacritics identified, and sign formation principles clarified. This rigorous examination revealed a core set of 40 fundamental signs, suggesting a concise underlying system despite stylistic variations in sign formation, composition, and combination. This finding supports the hypothesis of an alphabetic structure. Furthermore, the study proposes preliminary phonetic assignments based on allographic analogies with other ancient scripts, offering a tentative reading of Indus texts to support the proposed decipherment. This research establishes a new framework for understanding the Indus script's nature, paving the way for future linguistic and cultural investigations. Humanities/Language and linguistics Social science/Language and linguistics Indus script ancient scripts undeciphered scripts Indus alphabet classification of Indus signs Archaic alphabetic scripts Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6801050","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":530703688,"identity":"3052616f-c7d8-46ab-9772-ec6f3a307ce8","order_by":0,"name":"Mahaveer H Muhammad Abro","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA50lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFACHghlwMDAxsBTAWQxMzeQouUMSAsjKVp420BMAlp0288e/MxTYZNvLnb42IO382qj+duBWn5UbMOpxexMXrI0z5k0y52z09IN5247njvjMGMDY8+Z27i1HMgxkJzZdtjA4HaOmTTvtmO5DUAtzIxteLScf2P8c+a//1Atc47lzieo5UaOmcTHhgNQLQ01uRsIa3ljZvHhWDJQS1qa5JxjB3I3ArUcxOuX8znGNxJq7IBako9JvKmpy513/vDBBz8qcGtBB4fB5AGi1QNBHSmKR8EoGAWjYIQAAHBxXhc+sJsvAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mahaveer","middleName":"H Muhammad","lastName":"Abro","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-06-02 10:08:23","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6801050/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6801050/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":93750348,"identity":"84d11282-85c5-4dad-9235-26d7e14f64d1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-17 07:38:39","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":3450777,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"THEINDUSSCRIPTRecognitionasanAlphabet3.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6801050/v1_covered_35a15d23-a7ee-4d02-bc5b-3f6bc9fbbccc.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"THE INDUS SCRIPT Recognition as an alphabet","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Indus script, ancient scripts, undeciphered scripts, Indus alphabet, classification of Indus signs, Archaic alphabetic scripts","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6801050/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6801050/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study introduces a novel structural analysis of the Indus script (c. 3300\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1900 BCE) to determine if it represents an alphabetic system. 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