Question

Imagine you are a research scholar studying Harappan seals displayed in the National Museum. Explain any three aspects about the role of Harappan seals in trade and administration.

Hint:

Sealing = The impression made by the seal on clay. Seal = The physical object used to make the impression. Seals are the most important source for understanding the Harappan script and merchant identity.

Answer 1

Concept:

• Seals and sealings were essential tools in the Harappan civilization to facilitate long-distance communication and trade.
• They were typically made of steatite (a soft stone) and featured script and animal motifs.
• The physical impression left by a seal (the sealing) served as a mark of authority and security.

Step 1: Authentication of goods and security
One of the primary administrative roles of seals was to ensure the integrity of goods being transported over long distances.
When a bag of goods was tied, a layer of wet clay was applied to the knot, and the seal was pressed onto it.
If the bag reached its destination with the clay impression (the sealing) intact, it proved that the package had not been tampered with or opened during transit.

Step 2: Identification of the sender
The sealings also carried the identity of the sender to the recipient.
Most Harappan seals contained a line of script, which likely represented the name and title of the owner or the merchant.
This allowed the recipient to know exactly who had sent the goods, even if they were thousands of miles away, thus establishing a system of commercial trust.

Step 3: Facilitating administrative control
Seals were symbols of social and administrative status within Harappan urban centers.
The standardization of seal shapes and motifs suggests a high degree of centralized control over trade practices.
Furthermore, the presence of these seals in far-off lands like Mesopotamia indicates that they were part of an organized administrative framework that managed international exchange.