The functionalist theory of indus urbanism: A systems based reinterpretation of the Dholavira signboard and Harappan administrative protocols

This paper presents a novel "Functionalist Theory" of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), moving away from traditional religious-monarchic interpretations. It posits that the IVC operated as a high-intelligence, "System-Driven" society governed by universal iconography and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Central to this theory is the reinterpretation of the Dholavira Signboard as a functional public security notice and the Indus Seals as a standardized "Passport/ID" system. The paper further argues that the civilization's decline was a result of reaching a "Systemic Saturation Point," where extreme rigidity and population thinning led to a logical de-urbanization rather than a collapse via external conquest.