Mixed Methodologies: Collaborative Approaches to Indus Tiger Seals

Abstract

Seals and other inscribed materials of the Indus Civilization (2600–1900 BCE) are a valuable source of data for studying this ancient cultural system, from writing, craft production, and economics, to art and ideology. In the absence of deciphered texts, detailed comparative studies of these materials allow us to explore their roles and significance in the organizational dynamics of one of the world’s earliest urban societies. This article contributes to the study of inscribed objects by applying complementary methodologies from art history and archaeology to the examination of seals and related artifacts that depict the tiger motif. It explores the consistency and variability in these objects as a reflection of the unique carving styles and techniques employed to make them, the distinct identities that they embody, and the ideas embedded within them. Identified patterns provide insights into the production strategies, shared ideologies, and potential meanings of this uniquely South Asian icon and highlight larger issues of Indus sociopolitical organization and integration. This innovative approach for investigating inscribed materials allows for a deeper exploration of their role in and reflection of the unique cultural systems that defined the Indus during the third millennium BCE.