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History 8 India Ancient India Workbook

Ancient Indian seals were made from carved stone for the elite group of the Indus. Symbolizing wealth, they usually had animal designs or writing on them. They were used as decoration to distinguish the rulers from the common people. The seals might have also been used to indicate a type of trade or evidence of sales along a trade route. Similar seals were found in Mesopotamia suggesting that trade from India traveled across Asia. Goods like cotton were not abundant in Mesopotamia but flourished in the Indus Valley, so it was likely that India traded such items with them. Seals could have also been used to declare ownership of a property or a property name. They could have had religious significance as well. Many seals have been found that have unicorns of different shapes and sizes on them. This artistic feature is thought to have represented a type of religious practice. The seals of the Indus RIver Valley civilization obtained many usages and great significance.

Info Sources:

Manual pages- 149, 151, and 171

Webpage- http://www.ehow.com/info_8310805_were-ancient-indian-seals-used.html

Picture Source:

Webpage- http://www.people.vcu.edu/~djbromle/cartoon04/shobha/Seals_SR2.htm