Indian state announces $1 million reward for deciphering Indus Valley script

A state in India has announced a $1 million reward for anyone who can decipher the script of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, one of the world’s great Bronze Age cultures.

Despite its advanced urban planning and trade networks, the civilization’s script remains undeciphered due to the lack of bilingual texts and the short length of inscriptions.

Experts believe unlocking this script could reshape our understanding of early South Asian history. Scholars like Rajesh P. N. Rao are using AI to analyze patterns, but progress is slow due to limited inscriptions and political challenges.

The prize aims to accelerate research and unravel the secrets of a civilization that once rivaled ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.