The corpus
All counts are from the digitised corpus yajnadevam/lipi (version fc8813a), and only from it.
5,680
Total count of texts
3,838
Total count of unique texts
2,291
Total count of seals
From the first day to the Paśupati seal
8 days, 22 hours from the start of the project (8 September, 20:31) to the
Paśupati seal read in full (17 September, 19:10), Pacific time.
9 Sep 10 Sep 11 Sep 12 Sep 13 Sep 14 Sep 15 Sep 16 Sep 17 Sep
8 Sep 20:31 Research starts with ChatGPT creating catalog, graph of the Indus signs, texts 12 Sep 08:52 Study of the signs, one by one, begins 12 Sep 09:43 The word śakti identified: the spear sign 14 Sep 02:30 First grammar sign found: the linker “of” 14 Sep 03:29 Claude (Anthropic) handover 16 Sep 14:10 The sign list is created 16 Sep 17:51 The first meanings are entered: 36 signs, 6.5% of texts readable 16 Sep 21:26 First poetic line found, K-16: cakrasya kūrma, pati manuṣya 17 Sep 05:40 Start of the day: 77 signs, 34.1% of texts readable 17 Sep 13:55 M-1091 read: the line framed by two turtles 17 Sep 16:42 Half of all texts readable (159 signs) 17 Sep 19:10 M-304, the Paśupati seal, deciphered: every sign read (164 signs, 51.4% of texts readable; 1,087 seals and 1,535 tablets readable)
Statistics from the research, shown as charts. Counts are over the known corpus of Indus inscriptions;
identical texts at one site are counted once.
How much can be read
Damaged positions and word spaces are special symbols, not signs: they are not counted, and a text counts as read when every sign that survives has a meaning.
75%
Total count of texts: read
4,269 of 5,680
71%
Total count of unique texts: read
2,743 of 3,838
69%
Total count of seals: read
1,571 of 2,291
42%
Total unique signs: with a meaning
297 of 712
How the reading grew
Measured from every saved version of the sign notes and of the sign list.
Signs studied, one by one (12–15 September)
0 60 120 180 240 13 Sep 14 Sep 15 Sep 12 Sep 08:46: 0 signs studied 12 Sep 08:52: 1 signs studied 12 Sep 08:55: 1 signs studied 12 Sep 09:43: 16 signs studied 12 Sep 10:22: 24 signs studied 12 Sep 10:40: 25 signs studied 12 Sep 10:42: 27 signs studied 12 Sep 10:43: 29 signs studied 12 Sep 10:46: 30 signs studied 12 Sep 13:49: 31 signs studied 12 Sep 13:52: 31 signs studied 12 Sep 14:44: 34 signs studied 12 Sep 14:48: 36 signs studied 12 Sep 15:39: 105 signs studied 12 Sep 15:50: 120 signs studied 12 Sep 16:04: 130 signs studied 12 Sep 16:15: 136 signs studied 12 Sep 19:09: 150 signs studied 12 Sep 19:42: 155 signs studied 12 Sep 23:10: 184 signs studied 13 Sep 00:08: 184 signs studied 13 Sep 20:40: 186 signs studied 13 Sep 21:29: 187 signs studied 14 Sep 01:08: 195 signs studied 14 Sep 02:30: 197 signs studied 14 Sep 02:33: 197 signs studied 14 Sep 13:50: 198 signs studied 14 Sep 14:18: 201 signs studied 14 Sep 15:09: 201 signs studied 14 Sep 16:24: 202 signs studied 14 Sep 16:38: 203 signs studied 14 Sep 16:53: 203 signs studied 14 Sep 17:03: 204 signs studied 14 Sep 17:04: 204 signs studied 14 Sep 22:38: 208 signs studied 15 Sep 19:57: 208 signs studied 208
Signs with a meaning (16–17 September)
The sign list was created on 16 September at 14:10; the meanings already found were entered into it that evening.
0 60 120 180 17 Sep 18 Sep 19 Sep 16 Sep 14:10: 0 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 14:55: 0 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 15:14: 0 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 15:22: 0 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 15:25: 0 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 15:26: 0 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 15:49: 0 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 16:03: 0 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 16:27: 0 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 16:57: 0 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 17:02: 0 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 17:11: 0 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 17:17: 0 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 17:19: 0 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 17:51: 36 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 17:53: 38 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 17:59: 38 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 18:08: 68 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 18:11: 68 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 21:09: 69 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 21:12: 69 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 21:16: 69 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 21:43: 70 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 22:18: 72 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 22:21: 72 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 23:11: 74 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 23:47: 76 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 23:52: 77 signs with a meaning 16 Sep 23:59: 77 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 00:01: 77 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 00:08: 77 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 00:12: 77 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 00:31: 77 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 05:06: 77 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 05:40: 85 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 05:49: 85 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 05:55: 86 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 06:06: 86 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 06:32: 86 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 06:41: 86 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 06:57: 96 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 07:24: 101 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 07:25: 101 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 07:36: 107 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 07:45: 108 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 07:48: 108 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 07:51: 108 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 08:01: 109 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 08:03: 109 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 08:05: 109 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 08:16: 110 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 08:20: 110 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 08:32: 111 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 08:43: 117 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 08:50: 119 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 08:52: 119 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 08:56: 119 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 09:13: 120 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 09:14: 120 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 09:18: 121 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 09:20: 121 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 09:24: 121 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 09:28: 124 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 09:29: 124 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 09:55: 124 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 10:03: 131 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 10:28: 133 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 10:42: 133 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 10:53: 137 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 10:59: 137 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 11:08: 138 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 11:18: 141 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 11:42: 141 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 11:46: 141 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 13:46: 142 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 14:01: 144 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 14:03: 144 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 14:07: 145 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 14:21: 146 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 14:36: 147 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 14:45: 148 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 15:03: 149 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 15:39: 150 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 15:45: 150 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 15:55: 151 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 16:07: 153 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 16:10: 155 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 16:11: 155 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 16:14: 155 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 16:32: 156 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 16:35: 157 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 16:36: 157 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 16:39: 158 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 16:42: 159 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 16:43: 159 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 16:51: 161 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 16:55: 162 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 16:57: 162 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 17:02: 162 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 17:10: 162 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 19:03: 163 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 19:08: 164 signs with a meaning 17 Sep 19:22: 164 signs with a meaning 18 Sep 19:33: 165 signs with a meaning 18 Sep 19:53: 192 signs with a meaning 18 Sep 20:06: 192 signs with a meaning 18 Sep 20:15: 193 signs with a meaning 18 Sep 20:34: 194 signs with a meaning 18 Sep 20:46: 195 signs with a meaning 18 Sep 21:03: 196 signs with a meaning 18 Sep 21:10: 196 signs with a meaning 18 Sep 21:18: 197 signs with a meaning 18 Sep 21:19: 197 signs with a meaning 18 Sep 21:40: 198 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 00:04: 224 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 00:10: 226 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 00:26: 230 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 00:28: 230 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 00:30: 230 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 00:37: 231 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 00:39: 231 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 00:46: 233 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 00:46: 233 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 00:50: 233 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 00:52: 233 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 00:54: 233 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 00:59: 233 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 01:47: 233 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 08:26: 234 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 08:32: 234 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 08:51: 247 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 08:56: 247 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 08:59: 247 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 09:11: 249 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 09:54: 259 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 09:58: 264 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 10:50: 269 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 11:38: 270 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 11:39: 270 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 12:04: 276 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 12:20: 277 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 12:21: 277 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 12:50: 285 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 13:33: 287 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 13:56: 292 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 16:14: 293 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 16:15: 293 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 16:18: 293 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 16:27: 294 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 16:35: 295 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 16:42: 296 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 16:47: 297 signs with a meaning 19 Sep 22:40: 297 signs with a meaning 297
Share of the signs written in the Indus texts that have a meaning
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 17 Sep 18 Sep 19 Sep 16 Sep 14:10: 0.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 14:55: 0.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 15:14: 0.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 15:22: 0.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 15:25: 0.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 15:26: 0.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 15:49: 0.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 16:03: 0.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 16:27: 0.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 16:57: 0.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 17:02: 0.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 17:11: 0.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 17:17: 0.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 17:19: 0.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 17:51: 34.8% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 17:53: 36.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 17:59: 36.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 18:08: 66.1% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 18:11: 66.1% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 21:09: 67.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 21:12: 67.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 21:16: 67.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 21:43: 68.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 22:18: 68.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 22:21: 68.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 23:11: 68.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 23:47: 70.8% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 23:52: 71.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 16 Sep 23:59: 71.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 00:01: 71.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 00:08: 71.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 00:12: 71.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 00:31: 71.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 05:06: 71.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 05:40: 71.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 05:49: 71.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 05:55: 71.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 06:06: 71.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 06:32: 71.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 06:41: 71.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 06:57: 72.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 07:24: 72.8% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 07:25: 72.8% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 07:36: 73.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 07:45: 73.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 07:48: 73.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 07:51: 73.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 08:01: 73.5% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 08:03: 73.5% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 08:05: 73.5% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 08:16: 73.5% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 08:20: 73.5% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 08:32: 74.2% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 08:43: 74.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 08:50: 74.8% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 08:52: 74.8% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 08:56: 74.8% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 09:13: 74.8% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 09:14: 74.8% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 09:18: 75.2% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 09:20: 75.2% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 09:24: 75.2% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 09:28: 75.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 09:29: 75.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 09:55: 75.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 10:03: 76.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 10:28: 76.1% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 10:42: 76.1% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 10:53: 76.1% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 10:59: 76.1% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 11:08: 76.2% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 11:18: 76.5% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 11:42: 76.5% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 11:46: 76.5% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 13:46: 76.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 14:01: 76.8% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 14:03: 76.8% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 14:07: 77.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 14:21: 77.8% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 14:36: 78.5% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 14:45: 79.1% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 15:03: 79.3% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 15:39: 79.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 15:45: 79.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 15:55: 80.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 16:07: 80.2% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 16:10: 80.3% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 16:11: 80.3% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 16:14: 80.3% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 16:32: 80.5% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 16:35: 80.5% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 16:36: 80.5% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 16:39: 80.5% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 16:42: 80.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 16:43: 80.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 16:51: 80.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 16:55: 80.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 16:57: 80.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 17:02: 80.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 17:10: 80.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 19:03: 80.8% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 19:08: 81.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 17 Sep 19:22: 81.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 18 Sep 19:33: 81.8% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 18 Sep 19:53: 82.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 18 Sep 20:06: 82.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 18 Sep 20:15: 83.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 18 Sep 20:34: 83.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 18 Sep 20:46: 83.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 18 Sep 21:03: 83.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 18 Sep 21:10: 83.7% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 18 Sep 21:18: 84.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 18 Sep 21:19: 84.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 18 Sep 21:40: 84.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 00:04: 85.1% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 00:10: 85.2% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 00:26: 85.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 00:28: 85.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 00:30: 85.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 00:37: 85.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 00:39: 85.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 00:46: 85.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 00:46: 85.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 00:50: 85.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 00:52: 85.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 00:54: 85.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 00:59: 85.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 01:47: 85.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 08:26: 85.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 08:32: 85.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 08:51: 86.1% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 08:56: 86.1% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 08:59: 86.1% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 09:11: 86.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 09:54: 87.2% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 09:58: 87.5% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 10:50: 88.5% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 11:38: 88.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 11:39: 88.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 12:04: 89.5% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 12:20: 89.5% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 12:21: 89.5% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 12:50: 89.8% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 13:33: 90.0% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 13:56: 90.1% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 16:14: 90.2% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 16:15: 90.2% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 16:18: 90.2% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 16:27: 90.3% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 16:35: 90.4% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 16:42: 90.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 16:47: 90.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 19 Sep 22:40: 90.6% of signs written in the texts have a meaning 90.6%
Coverage against the number of signs
How much of the writing becomes readable as signs gain a meaning, one point per saved version of the
sign list. The research reached 90.6% with 297 signs.
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 signs with a meaning 36 signs: 34.8% 38 signs: 36.0% 68 signs: 66.1% 69 signs: 67.6% 70 signs: 68.0% 72 signs: 68.7% 74 signs: 68.7% 76 signs: 70.8% 77 signs: 71.4% 85 signs: 71.6% 86 signs: 71.7% 96 signs: 72.0% 101 signs: 72.8% 107 signs: 73.4% 108 signs: 73.4% 109 signs: 73.5% 110 signs: 73.5% 111 signs: 74.2% 117 signs: 74.7% 119 signs: 74.8% 120 signs: 74.8% 121 signs: 75.2% 124 signs: 75.7% 131 signs: 76.0% 133 signs: 76.1% 137 signs: 76.1% 138 signs: 76.2% 141 signs: 76.5% 142 signs: 76.6% 144 signs: 76.8% 145 signs: 77.0% 146 signs: 77.8% 147 signs: 78.5% 148 signs: 79.1% 149 signs: 79.3% 150 signs: 79.7% 151 signs: 80.0% 153 signs: 80.2% 155 signs: 80.3% 156 signs: 80.5% 157 signs: 80.5% 158 signs: 80.5% 159 signs: 80.6% 161 signs: 80.7% 162 signs: 80.7% 163 signs: 80.8% 164 signs: 81.6% 165 signs: 81.8% 192 signs: 82.6% 193 signs: 83.0% 194 signs: 83.4% 195 signs: 83.6% 196 signs: 83.7% 197 signs: 84.0% 198 signs: 84.0% 224 signs: 85.1% 226 signs: 85.2% 230 signs: 85.4% 231 signs: 85.4% 233 signs: 85.4% 234 signs: 85.6% 247 signs: 86.1% 249 signs: 86.4% 259 signs: 87.2% 264 signs: 87.5% 269 signs: 88.5% 270 signs: 88.6% 276 signs: 89.5% 277 signs: 89.5% 285 signs: 89.8% 287 signs: 90.0% 292 signs: 90.1% 293 signs: 90.2% 294 signs: 90.3% 295 signs: 90.4% 296 signs: 90.6% 297 signs: 90.6% 297 signs · 90.6%
Signs with a value, by theme People and offices 27
Deities and the sacred 46
Animals, plants and land 42
Calendar and sky 50
Weights and measures 45
Farming, fields and settlement 24
Vessels and household 17
Weapons and the goad 14
Numbers 31
Grammar signs 1
Seals read in full, by site Mohenjo-daro 916
Harappa 321
Dholavira 105
Lothal 66
Kalibangan 40
Chanhu-daro 34
Banawali 13
Unknown 12
Other sites 64
How often the grammar rules hold Share of the texts each rule applies to that follow it. Over all mechanically checkable rules together, 94.8% of the 634 objects they cover break none.
One “of” per text 99%
“Of” never at an edge 98%
Phrase after “of” runs to the end 89%
Numbers come first 90.5%
Weight · 2 does not end a text 99%
Tilaka does not end a text 97%
Lamp before the god 97%
Turtle before the lamp 100%
Turtle → lamp → god, in order 97%
God and title close the text 96%
How many damaged signs we can predict A damaged sign is predicted only when the rule for its position was right at least 80% of the time in the blind test below, and only when the result keeps the rules of the grammar. Restored texts are shown apart and are never counted as read.
7%
Damaged signs predicted
83 of 1,115
42
Damaged texts read in full once restored
Share of damaged signs predicted, by position in the text:
First sign of a text 3.9%
Middle sign of a text 3.9%
Last sign of a text 16%
Blind test: predicting a hidden sign Each sign in turn was hidden and predicted from its neighbours and the rules of the grammar, with that text removed from the evidence. The last three bars are the 80% rules used to predict damaged signs.
Always guess the commonest sign 10.8%
Hidden sign recovered, all predictions 32.9%
First sign, 80% rule (116 cases) 87.1%
Middle sign, 80% rule (768 cases) 82.3%
Last sign, 80% rule (678 cases) 81.7%