Dholavira: gateway to Meluhha, gateway to Bronze Age Sarasvati civilization

This is a tribute to Michel Danino for a brilliant, insightful exposition of the linear units of measurement of Sindhu-Sarasvati civilization, the Dholavira site in particular. This provides the backdrop to a lapidary-smithy revolution in process, in Meluhha, resulting in the making of polished stone pillars, socketed stone slabs, stone-cut reservoirs and alloying tin with copper to create tin-bronzes of the Bronze Age, ca. 4th millennium BCE. This was matched by another revolution: Indus writing system to encode Meluhha (Mleccha) speech to create stone-ware, metal-ware catalogs of the Sarasvati-Sindhu civilization.

This is the huge hoarding on the northern gateway of Dholavira fortification. I call this the Bronze Age Meluhha Standard. The Standard exemplified the gateway to Bronze Age Sarasvati civilization. The Sheffield of the Ancient Near East, Chanhu-daro (River Sarasvati right-bank), is about 150 kms. to the north if a seafaring-riverine merchant from Sumer, Mesopotamia, Dilmun, or Magan moved on the navigable River Sarasvati beyond the port town of Dholavira. 

Map showing the bird's foot palaeo-delta complex representing the mouths of three rivers identified as Shatadru (Hakra), Saraswati and Drishadvati (after ali et al.; after Fig. 3 in: Roy, AB & SR Jakhar, Late quaternary drainage disorganization, and migrtion and extinction of the Vedic Saraswati in Current Science, Vol. 81, No. 9, 10 November 2001, pp. 1188-1195 Source: http://tejas.serc.iisc.ernet.in/~currsci/nov102001/1188.pdf

See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2013/08/bronze-age-kanmer-bagasra.html 

Bronze Age Meluhha, smithy/lapidary documents, takṣat vāk, incised speech

Dholavira (Kotda) on Kadir island, Kutch, Gujarat; 10 signs inscription found near the western chamber of the northern gate of the citadel high mound (Bisht, 1991: 81, Pl. IX); each sign is 37 cm. high and 25 to 27 cm. wide and made of pieces of white crystalline rock; the signs were apparently inlaid in a wooden plank ca. 3 m. long; maybe, the plank was mounted on the facade of the gate to command the view of the entire cityscape. Ten signs are read from left to right. The 'spoked circle' sign seems to be the divider of the three-part message. (Bisht, R.S., 1991, Dholavira: a new horizon of the Indus Civilization. Puratattva, Bulletin of Indian Archaeological Society, 20: 81; now also Parpola 1994: 113). 

The signboard connotes in Meluhha language: Meluhha copper metalworking and lapidary (engraving, bead-making) complex of Bronze Age:

1. dhatu dul eraka  'mineral, cast (metal), molten cast copper

2.khāṇḍā ‘tools, pots and pans, metal-ware’. aduru ‘native metal’ kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe' (engraving)  eraka 'molten cast copper'

3. loh ‘(copper) metal’ kamaṭa = portable furnace for melting precious metals (Te.); kampaṭṭam = mint (Ta.) eraka'molten cast copper'

This first sign board of the world verily constitutes the Bronze Age Standard of Eurasia -- not merely a Meluhha Standard.Ancient Near East Bronze Age Meluhha, smithy/lapidary documents, takṣat vāk, incised speech [Evidence from sites surrounding Bhuj in Kutch: Kanmer, Dholavira, Gola Dhoro (Bagasra), Shikarpur, Khirsara, Surkotada, Desalpur, Konda Bhadli, Juni Kuran, Narapa]

See video clip: Indus Computer Graphics The civilization of the Indus Valley thrived on trade with the Persian Gulf and Mesopotamia. The city of Dholavira on the estuary of the Ghaggar-Hakra River was its gateway to the sea some 4,500 years ago. http://www.nhkint.or.jp/footage/index.php?cat=Special%20Effects F013

Dholavira. gateway. A designer's impressions (reconstruction) of the world's first signboard on the gateway of fortification or citadel.

See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2013/08/bronze-age-kanmer-bagasra.html Bronze Age Meluhha, smithy/lapidary documents, takṣat vāk, incised speech

http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2013/08/ancient-near-east-bronze-age-heralded.html  Ancient Near East Bronze Age -- heralded by Meluhha writing

Dholavira City layout (seen from the southwest and west). Source:  http://www.iisc.ernet.in/prasthu/pages/PP_data/dholavira.pdf

Sindhu-Sarasvati measuring scale. Lothal

Correlations with Vedic concepts

Addition of a fraction to the unit: 1 + 1/4 = 5/4

1+1+1/4 = 9/4

Repetition of a motif -- 5/4, 9/4 as in classical architecture.

Dholavira. A slotted stone for pillar base. Display of the extraordinary stone-working competence of the artisans of Dholavira. Professional architectural stone-working at its best. http://chandrashekharasandprints.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/kutch-and-kathiawar-a-tryst-with-history-part-v/

Port sites in Gujarat: predictive modelling

(After Fig. 5.3 and 9.4 in: Mathur, Roy, 2009, Predictiv modeling of Harappan port sites in the Gujarat Univ. of York, Dept of Archaeology, UK. http://roymathur.com/files/rmathuryork.pdf

This research attempts to develop a predictive model through the use of various software

tools with a view to identifying locational criteria related to possible Harappan age port

sites in the Gujarat region of North-West India and thus, assisting in forming a clearer

picture of maritime interaction network links both within the Gujarat as well as externally.

Interaction networks (After Kenoyer, harappa.com)

Dholavira located on the 'Khadir bet' was an excellent strategic location for trade and commerce as well as communication for the entire Indus civilization. Excavations - Dholavira - Gallery

http://asi.nic.in/asi_exca_2007_dholavira_images.asp Dholavira. Reservoirs are cut through stones vertically. They are about 7 meters deep and 79 meters long. Reservoirs skirted the city while citadel and bath are centrally located on raised ground. Dholavira. Water management. http://chandrashekharasandprints.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/amazing-dholavira-part-ii/ Dholavira. Bronze/coper artefacts. Copper mirror. http://akshardhoolstories.blogspot.in/p/amazing-world-of-dholavira.html

Dholavira2. Seal. 

kōnṭa corner (Nk.); tu. kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.); rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali) 

aṭar ‘a splinter’ (Ma.) aṭaruka ‘to burst, crack, sli off,fly open; aṭarcca ’ splitting, a crack’; aṭarttuka ‘to split, tear off, open (an oyster) (Ma.); aḍaruni ‘to crack’ (Tu.) (DEDR 66) Rebus: aduru ‘native, unsmelted metal’ (Kannada) aduru ‘gan.iyinda tegadu karagade iruva aduru’, that is, ore taken from the mine and not subjected to melting in a furnace (Kannada). Vikalpa: sal ‘splinter’; rebus: sal ‘workshop’ (Santali) An order of men. Ex. गोसाव्यांचे अठरा अखाडे आहेत.(M.)

khaḍā ‘circumscribe’ (M.); Rebs: khaḍā ‘nodule (ore), stone’ (M.)

Thus, the three glyphs together read: khaḍā 'stone ore' + aduru ‘native, unsmelted metal’ +  kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’; that is, stone- and mineral-ore turner.

Dholavira1 Seal. kōnṭa corner (Nk.); tu. kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali) sal ‘splinter’; rebus: sal ‘workshop’ (Santali) Thus, together, 'turner workshop'.

koḍa ‘in arithmetic, one’ (Santali); rebus: koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop’ (Kuwi)

loa ‘ficus religiosa’ (Santali) rebus: loh ‘metal’ (Skt.) Rebus: lo ‘copper’. khāṇḍā ‘notch’ Marathi: खांडा [ khāṇḍā ] m  A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon). Rebus: khāṇḍā ‘metal tools,  pots and pans’.

kuṭi ‘woman water carrier’ (Te.); kuṭhi ‘smelter furnace’ (Santali)

Thus, together, the text message reads: kõdā sal 'turner's workshop' + koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop’+ loh khāṇḍā 'copper tools, pots and pans' + kuṭhi 'smelter furnace'  That is, the seal described the metalware repertoire: artisan's turner workshop for copper tools, pots and pans (with) smelter furnace.

Dholavira. Seals.

Two seals on top row showing a three-headed animal:

kõdā  खोंड [ khōṇḍa ] m A young bull, a bullcalf. (Marathi) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali) mē̃ḍha ‘antelope’; krammara ‘looking back’; meḍ ‘iron’; 'merchant's helper'; kamar ‘blacksmith’ (Santali) *ḍaṅgara1 ʻ cattle ʼrebus: ḍhangar ‘blacksmith’ (Hindi) The composite animal motif is thus a professional calling card of a blacksmith + turner + merchant.

meḍ ‘body’ Rebus: meḍ ‘iron’ (Mu.) Vikalpa: kāḍ  2 काड् a man's length, the stature of a man (as a measure of length); rebus: kāḍ  ‘stone’; Ga. (Oll.) kanḍ , (S.) kanḍu (pl. kanḍkil)  stone

tagaraka 'tabernae montana' Rebus: tagaram 'tin' (Malayalam)

Thus, the two seals show: 

1. meḍ kāḍ kamar 'Iron stone blacksmith' +kõdā 'turner' + kāḍ meḍ 'stone merchant's helper'

2. tagara kamar 'tin smith' +kõdā 'turner' + kāḍ meḍ 'stone merchant's helper'

Glyph 342 'rim of jar': kaṇḍ kanka ‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karṇaka ‘scribe’; kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar’. Thus the ligatured Glyph is decoded: kaṇḍ karṇaka ‘furnace scribe

G. kã̄gsī f. ʻ comb ʼ, with metath. kã̄sko m., °kī f.; WPah. khaś. kāgśī, śeu. kāśkī ʻ a comblike fern ʼ kāmsako, kāmsiyo = a large sized comb (G.) Rebus: kaṁsa= bronze (Te.) dula 'pair' Rebus dul 'cast (metal)'. Thus the composite glyph reads: dul kaṁsa 'cast bronze'. 

sal ‘splinter’; rebus: sal ‘workshop’ (Santali)

kōnṭa corner (Nk.); tu. kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali)

Thus, together, the text of the inscription reads: kõdā 'turner' + dul kaṁsa 'cast bronze' +karṇaka‘scribe’, that is, cast bronze turner scribe.

 Dholavira3 Seal.

kõdā  'young bul' Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali) sangaḍa ‘pair’ (Marathi) Rebus: jaṅgaḍ ‘entrustment articles’.

kaṇḍ kanka ‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karṇaka ‘scribe’; kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar’. Thus the ligatured Glyph is decoded: kaṇḍ karṇaka ‘furnace scribe'

koḍa ‘in arithmetic, one’ (Santali); rebus: koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop’ (Kuwi)

kōnṭa corner (Nk.); tu. kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali)

ayo 'fish' Rebus: ayas 'iron, metal'

ḍagar f. ʻ little hill, slope ʼ (Marathi) Rebus: damgar 'merchant' (Akkadian)

keṇṭai carp (Ta.) Rebus: kē̃ṛē̃ bell-metal, brass.

Glyph: phala ʻwhat is split' Rebus: P. N. phal ʻ blade ʼ, B. phal, °lā; Or. phaḷā ʻ bladeʼ (CDIAL 9052).

Thus the text message reads: phal 'blade' + kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ +kē̃ṛē̃ bell-metal, brass + damgar'merchant'+ kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’+ koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop’ + karṇaka ‘furnace scribe'. The professional calling card of the artisan reads: scribe, turner, merchant (with) workshop for blade and bell-metal.

Dholavira4 Seal.

khaḍā ‘circumscribe’ (M.); Rebs: khaḍā ‘nodule (ore), stone’ (M.) 

kolmo ‘paddy plant’; rebus: kolami ‘smithy’ (Te.Ka.) 

ranku ‘liquid measure’; rebus: ranku ‘tin’ (Santali) 

sal stake, spike, splinter, thorn, difficulty (H.); Rebus: sal ‘workshop’ (Santali)

kōnṭa corner (Nk.); tu. kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali)

Thus the message reads: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’+ khaḍā ‘nodule (ore), stone’+ kolami ‘smithy’+ ranku ‘tin’+ sal‘workshop’+ kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’. The professional calling card: stone-work (lapidary), smithy, turner, tin workshop,

Dholavira5 Seal with one-horned young bull + standard device.

kõdā  'young bul' Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali) sangaḍa ‘pair’ (Marathi) Rebus: jaṅgaḍ ‘entrustment articles’.

kōnṭa corner (Nk.); tu. kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali)

sal stake, spike, splinter, thorn, difficulty (H.); Rebus: sal ‘workshop’ (Santali)

khaḍā ‘circumscribe’ (M.); Rebs: khaḍā ‘nodule (ore), stone’ (M.) kolmo ‘paddy plant’; rebus: kolami ‘smithy’ (Te.Ka.)

G. kã̄gsī f. ʻ comb ʼ, with metath. kã̄sko m., °kī f.; WPah. khaś. kāgśī, śeu. kāśkī ʻ a comblike fern ʼ kāmsako, kāmsiyo = a large sized comb (G.) Rebus: kaṁsa= bronze (Te.) dula 'pair' Rebus dul 'cast (metal)'. Thus the composite glyph reads: dul kaṁsa 'cast bronze'. 

ayo 'fish' Rebus: ayas 'iron, metal'

Combined glyph: khāṇḍā ‘notch’ Marathi: खांडा [ khāṇḍā ] m  A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon). Rebus: khāṇḍā ‘metal tools,  pots and pans’. kōnṭa corner (Nk.); tu. kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali)

kaṇḍ kanka ‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karṇaka ‘scribe’; kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar’. Thus the ligatured Glyph is decoded: kaṇḍ karṇaka ‘furnace scribe'

gaṇṭa = bat (Telugu) Rebus: kaṇḍ ‘fire-altar, furnace’ (Santali) The last glyph may be a variant of water-carrier. kuṭi ‘woman water carrier’ (Te.); kuṭhi ‘smelter furnace’ (Santali) Thus, both a furnace and a smelter are referenced.

Thus the entire text of the message reads:  khaḍā kolimi stone (workshop/smithy), i.e. lapidary; workshop (with) kõdā  'lathe'.; kaṁsa 'bronze' and ayas 'alloy (metal)' khāṇḍā 'tools, pots and pans'; kaṇḍ kanka fire-altar, kuṭhi 'smelter' scribe.

Dholavira7 Seal. ḍagar f. ʻ little hill, slope ʼ (Marathi) Rebus: damgar 'merchant' (Akkadian) kāṇḍa 'arrow' khāṇḍā 'tools, pots and pans' (Marathi)

 

Dholavira6 Seal. One-horned young bull + standard device.

kõdā  'young bul' Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali) sangaḍa ‘pair’ (Marathi) Rebus: jaṅgaḍ ‘entrustment articles’.

Glyph: potramu = snout of a hog Rebus: pot = jeweller's polishing stone (Bi.)

ḍagar f. ʻ little hill, slope ʼ (Marathi) Rebus: damgar 'merchant' (Akkadian)

kāṇḍa 'arrow' khāṇḍā 'tools, pots and pans' (Marathi)

Dholavira8 Seal. Gharial (Crocodile).

karā 'crocodile' Rebus: khār 'blacksmith' (Kashmiri)

kōnṭa corner (Nk.); kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali) sal 'splinter' Rebus: sal 'workshop'.

koḍa ‘in arithmetic, one’ (Santali); rebus: koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop’ (Kuwi) khaḍā‘circumscribe’ (M.); Rebus: khaḍā ‘nodule (ore), stone’ (M.) koḍ ‘horn’; koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop’ (Kuwi)

sal stake, spike, splinter, thorn, difficulty (H.); Rebus: sal ‘workshop’ (Santali)

Composite glyph with modifying elements: ḍhālako = a large metal ingot (G.) ḍālakī = a metal heated and poured into a mould; a solid piece of metal; an ingot (G.) ḍabu ‘an iron spoon’ (Santali) Rebus: ḍab, ḍhimba, ḍhompo ‘lump (ingot?)’,baṭa = wide-mouthed pot; Rebus: baṭa = kiln (Te.) That is, baṭa ḍab .); Rebus: sal ‘workshop’ (Santali) Composite glyph with modifying elements reads: baṭa ḍab ḍhālako 'kiln for lump ingot, large metal ingot'.

G. kã̄gsī f. ʻ comb ʼ, with metath. kã̄sko m., °kī f.; WPah. khaś. kāgśī, śeu. kāśkī ʻ a comblike fern ʼ kāmsako, kāmsiyo = a large sized comb (G.) Rebus: kaṁsa = bronze (Telugu) 

Thus, the entire text of the message on the Dholavira8 tablet reads: baṭa  ḍab  ḍhālako 'kiln for lump ingot, large metal ingot' (for) kaṁsa 'bronze'  + koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop’ + kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’; that is, a lathe workshop. 

 Dholavira9 Tablet

kolmo 'three' Rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'.

kāṇḍa 'arrow' khāṇḍā 'tools, pots and pans' (Marathi)

Dholavira 10 Tablet

kāḍ  2 काड् a man's length, the stature of a man (as a measure of length); rebus: kāḍ  ‘stone’; Ga. (Oll.) kanḍ , (S.) kanḍu (pl. kanḍkil)  stone

kaṇḍ kanka ‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karṇaka ‘scribe’; kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar’. Thus the ligatured Glyph is decoded: kaṇḍ karṇaka ‘furnace scribe'

Dholavira20 Seal.

kāḍ  2 काड् a man's length, the stature of a man (as a measure of length); rebus: kāḍ  ‘stone’; Ga. (Oll.) kanḍ , (S.) kanḍu (pl. kanḍkil)  stone. khāṇḍā ‘notch’ Marathi: खांडा [ khāṇḍā ] m  A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon). Rebus: khāṇḍā ‘metal tools,  pots and pans’. Thus, the composite glyph reads:  kāḍ  khāṇḍā 'stone tools, pots and pans'.

ḍhālako = a large metal ingot (G.) ḍālakī = a metal heated and poured into a mould; a solid piece of metal; an ingot (G.) khaḍā ‘circumscribe’ (M.); Rebus: khaḍā ‘nodule (ore), stone’ (M.)  Thus, the composite glyph reads: khaḍā ḍhālako  'stone (mould) (for) large metal ingot'.

Dholavira11 Seal.

ḍabu ‘an iron spoon’ (Santali) Rebus: ḍab, ḍhimba, ḍhompo ‘lump (ingot?)’, baṭa = wide-mouthed pot; Rebus: baṭa = kiln (Te.)  That is, baṭa ḍab kiln for lump ingot.

Ku. khuṭo ʻ leg, foot ʼ, °ṭī ʻ goat's leg ʼ; N. khuṭo ʻ leg, foot ʼ(CDIAL 3894). S. khuṛī f. ʻ heel ʼ; WPah. paṅ. khūṛ ʻ foot ʼ. khura m. ʻ hoof ʼ Rebus: khũṭ  ‘community, guild’ (Santali) kūṭa‘workshop’

Fig leaf ‘loa’; rebus: loh ‘(copper) metal’ kamaḍha = ficus religiosa (Skt.); kamaṭa = portable furnace for melting precious metals (Te.); kampaṭṭam = mint (Ta.)

kuṭi ‘water-carrier’ (Te.); Rebus: kuṭhi ‘smelter’ (Santali) kaṇḍ kanka ‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karṇaka ‘scribe’; kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar’. Thus the ligatured, composite glyph is decoded: kuṭhi kaṇḍ karṇaka ‘furnace, fire-altar scribe'.

The entire text of Dholavira11 Seal reads: kampaṭṭam 'mint' + kuṭhi kaṇḍ karṇaka ‘furnace, fire-altar scribe'+ baṭa ḍab 'kiln for lump ingot' + kūṭa ‘workshop’. That is, mint with furnace, fire-altar and ingot, engraving workshop.

Dholavira16 Seal.

ranku 'liquid measure' Rebus: ranku 'tin' (Cassiterite)

tagaraka 'tabernae montana' Rebus: tagaram 'tin'

 bhaṭa 'warrior' Rebus: baṭa = kiln (Te.)

kaṇḍ kanka ‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karṇaka ‘scribe’; kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar’.

The entire message reads: ranku 'cassiterite (unfurnace)', tagaraka 'tin (furnaced)' + baṭa 'kiln' + karṇaka ‘scribe’.

Dholavira12 Seal.

ranku 'liquid measure' Rebus: ranku 'tin' (Cassiterite)

tagaraka 'tabernae montana' Rebus: tagaram 'tin'

khaḍā ‘circumscribe’ (M.); Rebs: khaḍā ‘nodule (ore), stone’ (M.) ḍhālako = a large metal ingot (G.) ḍālakī = a metal heated and poured into a mould; a solid piece of metal; an ingot (G.)

dula 'two, pair' Rebus: dul 'cast (metal)'. Thus the message reads: cassiterite (unfurnace), tin (furnaced) nodule stone (ore), cast metal large ingot. Thus, the seal announces the availability of cassiterite (tin) ore and cast tin ingot.

Dholavira13 Seal.

kōnṭa corner (Nk.); tu. kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali) sal 'splinter' Rebus: sal 'workshop'.

bhaṭa ‘six’; rebus: bhaṭa ‘furnace’ bhaṭa ‘iron’ (Gujarati)

kolmo 'paddy plant' Rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'.

Thus the entire message reads: kolimi 'smithy,forge'; bhaṭa 'iron, furnace'; kõdā sal 'turner workshop'.

Dholavira14 Seal.

kāḍ  2 काड् a man's length, the stature of a man (as a measure of length); rebus: kāḍ  ‘stone’; Ga. (Oll.) kanḍ , (S.) kanḍu (pl. kanḍkil)  stone

koḍa ‘in arithmetic, one’ (Santali); rebus: koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop’ (Kuwi)

खांडा [khāṇḍā] A division of a field. (Marathi) khāṇḍā 'tools, pots and pans' (Marathi) dula 'pair' Rebus: dul 'cast (metal)'.

Thus, the entire message reads: dul khāṇḍā 'cast metal tools, pots and pans' + kāḍ  ‘stone’ + koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop’. It is a lapidary's workshop and a  smithy forge.

Dholavira15 Seal.

ayo 'fish' Rebus: ayo 'metal' + inclined stroke: dhāḷ ‘a slope’; ‘inclination of a plane’ (G.); ḍhāḷiyum = adj. sloping, inclining (G.) Rebus: ḍhālako = a large metal ingot (G.) ḍhālakī = a metal heated and poured into a mould; a solid piece of metal; an ingot (Gujarati) Thus the composite glyph reads: ayo ḍhālako 'a large alloy metal ingot'

ḍabu ‘an iron spoon’ (Santali) Rebus: ḍab, ḍhimba, ḍhompo ‘lump (ingot?)’, baṭa = wide-mouthed pot; Rebus: baṭa = kiln (Te.)  That is, baṭa ḍab kiln for lump ingot.

kolmo 'three' Rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'.

kāṇḍa 'arrow' khāṇḍā 'tools, pots and pans' (Marathi)

Thus the entire message reads: khāṇḍā 'tools, pots and pans' + kolimi 'smithy, forge'+ baṭa ḍab kiln for lump ingot + yo ḍhālako 'a large alloy metal ingot'.

Dholavira17 Seal.

dula 'pair' Rebus: dul 'cast (metal)'

kamāṭhiyo = archer; kāmaṭhum = a bow; kāmaḍ, kāmaḍum = a chip of bamboo (G.) kāmaṭhiyo a bowman; an archer (Skt.lex.)   Rebus: kammaṭi a coiner (Ka.); kampaṭṭam coinage, coin, mint (Ta.) kammaṭa = mint, gold furnace (Te.) 

kuṭi ‘water-carrier’ (Te.); Rebus: kuṭhi ‘smelter’ (Santali)

Thus the message reads: dul 'cast (metal)' kampaṭṭam 'mint' kuṭhi ‘smelter’ 

Dholavira18 Seal. 'One-horned young bull'.

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