Ardhurat

Ardhurat, sometimes rendered ardhurat, is the name given to an ancient writing system used by the Ardhuran civilization of the central uplands. The script is attested on stone stelae, ceramic tablets, and metal objects dating from roughly 1800–800 BCE. It is considered a logo-syllabic system, combining signs for syllables with logograms representing basic concepts and titulary formulas.

The ardhurat signs comprise an estimated 280 signs in typical corpora; signs are angular and compact; writing direction is predominantly left to right on monuments, though some inscriptions run vertically or right to left depending on the medium. Grammatical marks are indicated through affixing and sign combinations; numerals are expressed with separate numeral signs.

Origin and distribution: The origins are uncertain, with hypotheses linking ardhurat to earlier proto-urban cultures in the same region. Inscriptions have been found at several sites, including the hilltop site of Sura and the river settlements of Tesh; the distribution suggests a centralized administration and a cultic emphasis on ancestor veneration.

Decipherment: Modern scholarly attention began in the early 20th century; progress has been incremental, and a comprehensive decipherment remains incomplete. The corpus includes royal inscriptions, temple dedications, and marketplace records; some readings are widely accepted for core syllabary signs, while others remain contested.

Legacy: Ardhurat ceased to be used after the early second millennium BCE, supplanted by neighboring writing systems. Its study informs theories about linguistic contacts, state formation, and ritual practice in the Ardhuran world. Ongoing archaeological fieldwork and inscriptions conservation continue to refine understanding.