The Indus Civilization c8.11

c8.11

One very fine bronze axe-adze, about ten inches long, has a hole in the head to take a handle, and is the first socketed implement to be found at Mohenjo-daro (Pl. N, 1). This axe-adze is very similar to some discovered in the basin of the Kuban river in the Caucasus, while its tubular collar resembles that of specimens from Tepe Hissar in North-east Persia. As it is at present the only one of its kind unearthed in the Indus valley, its date cannot be fixed until other examples are found. Socketed implements were, however, quite common in Sumer at a time contemporary with the Indus cities, although nothing has yet been found there of the same date that is strictly comparable with the specimen from Mohenjo-daro. A model axe with handle, in clay, which has been lately found in the city has the head coloured to imitate metal, and is quite unlike anything that has been discovered elsewhere. This, too, has a socketed head, and is a further proof that this type of weapon was known to the native metal-workers.