'This book is substantial, in every sense of the word … does make a forceful case for a partial decipherment … it will become the standard reference work and the basis for any further debate.' Stuart Blackburn, South Asia Research

• Part I. Introduction: 1. The Indus Civilization and its historical context; Part II. The Indus Script: 2. Early writing systems; 3. Deciphering an unknown script; 4. Approaches to the Indus script; 5. Internal evidence for the type of script used in the Indus Valley; 6. Internal evidence on the structure of the Indus language; 7. External clues to the Indus script; Part III. The Linguistic Context: 8. In search of the Indus language; 9. Dravidian languages and the Harappan culture; Part IV. Interpretations of Indus Pictograms: 10. The 'fish' signs of the Indus script; 11. The astronomical and astrological background; 12. The trefoil motif: further evidence for astral religion; 13. Evidence for Harappan worship of the god Muruku; 14. Evidence for Harappan worship of the Goddess; 15. Epilogue; Appendix; Bibliographical notes; References; Index.

'This book is substantial, in every sense of the word … does make a forceful case for a partial decipherment … it will become the standard reference work and the basis for any further debate.' Stuart Blackburn, South Asia Research

• Part I. Introduction: 1. The Indus Civilization and its historical context; Part II. The Indus Script: 2. Early writing systems; 3. Deciphering an unknown script; 4. Approaches to the Indus script; 5. Internal evidence for the type of script used in the Indus Valley; 6. Internal evidence on the structure of the Indus language; 7. External clues to the Indus script; Part III. The Linguistic Context: 8. In search of the Indus language; 9. Dravidian languages and the Harappan culture; Part IV. Interpretations of Indus Pictograms: 10. The 'fish' signs of the Indus script; 11. The astronomical and astrological background; 12. The trefoil motif: further evidence for astral religion; 13. Evidence for Harappan worship of the god Muruku; 14. Evidence for Harappan worship of the Goddess; 15. Epilogue; Appendix; Bibliographical notes; References; Index.