Discovery of zoomorphic sculptures in the cities of Sarasvati and Indus

Archaeological excavations conducted in the ancient cities of the Sarasvati Valley, at the heart of the Seven Rivers Civilization, have revealed astonishing sculptures depicting animal forms. These zoomorphic sculptures, found in homes, public places, and on everyday objects, demonstrate the importance of animals in the culture of this period.

These sculptures often depict animals familiar to the region, such as bulls, buffalo, elephants, rhinoceroses, antelopes, or even felines. But some are more enigmatic: they blend several animals into one. This blend gives rise to strange creatures, somewhere between the real and the symbolic. These figures may have religious, magical, or spiritual roles.

Among the most famous objects discovered in cities like Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, Rakhigarhi, and Kalibangan are numerous seals engraved in steatite. These small, flat blocks were used to mark objects, goods, or perhaps to convey a message. These seals often feature a very unusual animal, which archaeologists have nicknamed « the unicorn. »

But this is not a simple horned horse like in modern tales. This « unicorn » is a creature composed of several animals: it has the powerful body of a bull, the elongated head of a horse, and a single, thin, straight horn, like that of an antelope. It is therefore not a real animal, but a symbolic construction. This mixture could represent a force, an energy, or a spirit that the inhabitants of the Seven Rivers Civilization respected or invoked.

These seals are always accompanied by engraved signs, which remain undeciphered today. This makes their interpretation even more mysterious. But the repeated presence of this hybrid animal shows that it held an important place in their culture.

These discoveries demonstrate the rich imagination of the inhabitants of the Sarasvati and Indus Valleys, and their ability to combine observation of the natural world with inner representation. Zoomorphic sculptures and unicorn seals are valuable evidence of their way of thinking, believing, and representing the connection between humans, animals, and invisible forces.