The Indus inch
A cradle of ancient human advancement, the Indus Valley Civilisation is a legacy shrouded in the sands of time. Among the treasures unearthed from this site of archaeological significance is the Indus Scale, a silent witness to a bygone era.
In the hallowed halls of the National Museum in New Delhi, India, nestled within a protective case alongside the Harappan and Mohenjo-Daro weights, the Indus Scale lies in the Harappa Gallery. This unassuming artefact beckons visitors to unravel its mysteries, offering a glimpse into the daily life, trade, and perhaps even the spiritual practices of one of the world's earliest urban civilisations.
Ernest Mackay's extensive excavations at Mohenjo-Daro from 1926 to 1931 are widely acknowledged. Collaborating with W Norman Brown, Mackay also orchestrated the Chanhu-Daro excavation. During 1930-31, Mackay unearthed a shattered shell fragment in Mohenjo-Daro, a discovery that would prove to be of profound significance. He published a comprehensive site report which included findings of the Indus Scale based on his meticulous investigations from 1936 to 1937.
The curious relic
In Room 46, Block 18, within the DK area of the archaeological site, Mackay uncovered a shell scale or ruler. Fractured at both ends, this artefact featured a planar surface with a discernible circle and nine dividing lines. A few lines resembling scratches intersected the dividing lines, adding an intriguing layer to the artefact's complexity.
This fragmented shell consisted of eight divisions, each measuring 6.7056mm (0.264 inches). A dot and circle adorned the fragment, spaced at intervals of five graduations. Notably, the sum of these five divisions resulted in an interval of 33.528mm (1.32 inches). This unit of measurement, now commonly referred to as the "Indus Inch," was initially described by the superintendent of excavations at Mohenjo-Daro as a "measure of length".
Mackay emphasised the weight system's significance, contending that it showcased the Mohenjo-Daro people's advanced cognitive abilities, marked by a remarkable precision in thought and labour. He highlighted the optimal qualities of the shell material noting its resistance to warping, cracking, and temperature changes. Mackay suggested that the limitation in obtaining longer lengths from shell material may have been overcome by incorporating metal joints.
The discovery of portable and diminutive measuring instruments, such as linear scales, remains rare in the archaeological record, particularly in South Asia. Another noteworthy find from the Indus Civilisation is a minute bronze rod with four divisions, precisely measuring 1.5 inches in length, discovered at Harappa. These artefacts offer glimpses into the precision and ingenuity of measurement practices employed by ancient civilisations, contributing valuable insights to our understanding of their technological and intellectual achievements.
Ian Whitelaw's book A Measure of All Things: The Story of Man and Measurement provides an intriguing account of the ruler unearthed from the Mohenjo-Daro site: "The Mohenjo-Daro ruler is subdivided into decimal subdivisions that correspond to 1.32 inches (33.5 mm) and are precisely marked to within 0.005 of an inch." The units correspond to the dimensions of ancient brickwork discovered throughout the area.
Ancient accounting
Crafted from ceramics, bronze and copper, the Indus civilisation developed pan balances. One Mohenjo-Daro pan balance was fabricated with two pans, a bronze beam, and a cord-pivot type fulcrum. Several surveying instruments and measuring rods that were unearthed have provided indications of early cartographic endeavours.
According to archaeologists such as Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, "These measuring devices may have been designed for a special occasion or an affluent clientele, but the average citizen of these cities most likely employed alternative measurement methods." Mackay, being aware of the discoveries of linear scales dating back to Bronze Age Egypt, directed the fabrication of a cast representing the shell scale of Mohenjo-Daro.
This cast was to be submitted to the esteemed Egyptologist Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) for examination. The uniqueness of the casting of this scale in early Indus Civilisation research raises its historical significance as an uncommon find.
Sophistication in standardisation and uniformity
The discovery of scales and weights in the ruins of Indus Valley cities like Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa opened a window to this ancient civilisation's daily lives and economic practices. These scales were not just tools for trade but symbols of a society that had achieved a high degree of sophistication in standardisation and uniformity. Made typically from metal or stone, these scales exhibit precision in their construction that speaks volumes about the Indus people's understanding of mathematics and metallurgy.
What is particularly striking about the Indus Scale is its uniformity across a civilisation that spanned a vast area. This consistency suggests a highly organised society with either a strong central authority or a universally accepted cultural practice that dictated weight and measurement standards. This is no small feat considering the geographical spread of the Indus Valley Civilisation, which included various cities and settlements connected by trade and cultural exchange.
However, the Indus scale also presents a mystery, primarily because the civilisation left no known decipherable written language. Without written records, understanding the exact usage, significance, and administrative mechanisms enforced this uniformity in scales and weights becomes a task of speculation and inference. Archaeologists and historians must rely on the context of these scales and compare them with similar artefacts from other civilisations to form hypotheses about their use.
The Indus Scale is a gateway to numerous unanswered questions about this enigmatic culture. One of the primary mysteries is the governance and regulatory mechanisms that allowed such standardisation of weights and measures. It is unclear how, without a central monetary system or a decipherable form of writing, the people of the Indus Valley maintained such uniformity. This leads to questions about the administrative structure and whether there was a form of bureaucratic oversight that governed trade and commerce.
Another point of curiosity is the exact nature of the trade and commerce that necessitated these scales. While it is evident that the civilisation engaged in extensive trade, both internally and with distant lands, the specifics of these exchanges — what goods were traded, how trade routes were established, and the extent to which trade influenced social and political structures — remain speculative.
The technological knowledge required to produce these scales and weights with precision implies a deep understanding of mathematics and metallurgy. How was this technical knowledge passed down through generations, and what other technological advancements might have been developed alongside the scales? The daily use of these scales and the range of items measured also pose interesting questions. Were these scales used solely for trade, or did they have a role in everyday activities such as cooking, crafting, or construction? Understanding the commonplace use of the scales could provide insights into the daily lives of the Indus people.
There is also the question of cultural exchange. It is unknown whether the Indus scales were unique inventions of this civilisation or if they were influenced by or influenced neighbouring cultures. The extent to which the Indus Valley Civilisation interacted and shared technological innovations with contemporaneous societies like Mesopotamia or Ancient Egypt is a topic of ongoing research.
The existence of scales sheds light on the societal structure of the Indus Valley Civilisation indicating a society engaged in complex economic activities. Yet how these activities were structured and managed within the society is poorly understood. The roles of individuals in this system, the level of wealth distribution, and the societal implications of trade are all aspects that researchers continue to investigate.
The legal systems, especially those about trade, are another area shrouded in mystery. If there were disputes over measurements or weights, how were they resolved? Such a system implies the presence of laws and regulations, but without written records, the nature of these legal frameworks is left to conjecture.
The technological advancement represented by the scales raises the question of what other innovations might have existed. The precision of these tools suggests that there may have been other sophisticated implements and machines in use, the knowledge of which has not survived.
Hence, the pieces of this puzzle are fragmented, and each discovery leads to new hypotheses. Each unanswered question about the Indus scale is a reminder of the vast knowledge that has been lost to time and the persistent efforts of modern scholarship to reclaim it.
The scales also offer clues about the Indus people's daily life and occupational practices. They were likely used in various spheres, from marketplaces to administrative centres, suggesting a bustling economy with diverse trades and crafts. The standardisation of weights and measures would have been crucial for a civilisation that exhibited such a high degree of urban planning and architectural sophistication, as seen in the layout of their cities, the construction of their buildings, and the design of their drainage systems.
Arshad Awan is a Lahore-based author, educationist, brand strategist, historian and journalist. He can be reached at: arshadawan@msn.com
All facts and information are the sole responsibility of the author