While lacking fullest data, there is a growing consensus that the Harappan culture originated as a result of local cultural developments. "Mesopotamian" inventions are not needed to explain it.

Source: Wikiquote: "Jim G. Shaffer" (Quotes, 1990s, Migration, Philology and South Asian Archaeology, 1999: Migration, philology and South Asian archaeology by Jim G. Schaffer & Diane A. Lichtenstein Shaffer, Jim G. and Diane Lichtenstein, 1999. “Migration, Philology and South Asian Archaeology.” In Aryan and Non-Aryan in South Asia: Evidence, Interpretation and Ideology, edited by J. Bronkhorst and M. Deshpande. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University. quoted also in Bryant, E. F., & Patton, L. L. (2005). The Indo-Aryan controversy : evidence and inference in Indian history. Routledge . James Schaffer of Case Western University, Migration,Philology and South Asian Archaeology in Aryan and Non-Aryan in South Asia: Evidence, Interpretation andHistory, edited by J. Bronkhorst and M. Deshpande, University of Michigan Press 1998. attributed at http://veda.wikidot.com/the-aryan-invasion-theory-and-hindu-politics https://m.rediff.com/news/1998/nov/14aryan.htm. quoted in The Languages of Harappa. Witzel, Michael. Feb. 17, 2000. 1998. “Migration, philology and South Asian archaeology.” In Aryan and Non-Aryan in South Asia: Evidence, Interpretation and Ideology, J. Bronkhorst and M. Deshpande (eds.). In press, Ann Arbor. 1999 ‘Migration, philology & South Asian archaeology’ in J Bronkhorst & M Deshpande (eds) Aryan and Non-Aryan in South Asia, Cam, Mass, HOS (239- 260).. in .@..@. Kazanas, N. (2003). Final reply: Indo-Aryan migration debate. Journal of Indo-European studies, 31(1-2), 187-240.) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app