What is unique about the Indus Valley script, and why is it still a subject of study today?

The Indus Valley script, also known as Harappan script, is unique because it is one of the world's oldest undeciphered writing systems. It was used in the Indus Valley Civilization which existed around 2500–1900 BCE in what is now Pakistan and northwest India.

Here are the reasons why it is unique:

1. Undeciphered Script: Despite numerous attempts, the Indus script has not been deciphered yet. This is a major factor that makes it unique and intriguing.

2. Short Length of Inscriptions: Most of the inscriptions are very short, the longest on a single surface, which is less than 30 characters.

3. Wide Usage: The script was widely used in a variety of contexts, including seals, pottery, tools, and figurines, indicating that it was accessible to common people, not just the elite.

4. Non-linguistic Symbols: Some symbols appear to represent physical objects, which suggests that the script may include both phonetic and non-phonetic symbols.

The Indus Valley script is still a subject of study today because of the following reasons:

1. Decipherment: The primary reason is the challenge of decipherment. Scholars and linguists are still trying to understand the script and the language it represents.

2. Historical Significance: Understanding the script could provide significant insights into the Indus Valley Civilization, one of the world's earliest urban civilizations.

3. Cultural Understanding: Deciphering the script could also help us understand the culture, beliefs, and social structure of the people of the Indus Valley Civilization.

4. Linguistic Understanding: It could also contribute to the understanding of the history of writing and the development of other writing systems.