Tamil Nadu Offers $1 Million, €960,000 Reward for Deciphering 5,300-Year-Old Indus Valley Script, Says M.K. Stalin

Jan 24, 2025, 02:00 PM

The government of Tamil Nadu in southeastern India has announced a reward of $1 million, equivalent to €960,000, for anyone who can decipher a 5,300-year-old script from the Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization. This offer was made public by M.K. Stalin, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, following a study that highlighted similarities between the symbols found on local pottery and those of the ancient civilization. The Indus Valley Civilization thrived around 5,300 years ago in what is now northwestern India and Pakistan. Its people were farmers and traders, establishing one of the world's earliest urban societies. The script, consisting of approximately 4,000 short inscriptions, remains undeciphered despite numerous efforts by linguists and archaeologists. Deciphering it could provide further insights into the governance and beliefs of this ancient civilization.