A library for the study
of early civilizations.

The Indus Valley, the Americas, and the other cradles of complex society.

Before and alongside the great religions stood early civilizations that built cities, kept records and organised states. This section gathers resources on the Indus Valley, Mesoamerica, the Andes and early China. Primary sources range from Indus seals and the Inca khipu knot-records to Guaman Poma's illustrated chronicle and the Florentine Codex, each linked to a free digital edition. You will also find leading archaeology journals, institutions such as the Cotsen Institute and Dumbarton Oaks, digital projects, and a Community page for jobs, fellowships, conferences and societies. Scripts and records differ widely, so we note where a script remains undeciphered.