The Indus Civilization c8.15

c8.15

Daggers are sometimes difficult to distinguish from knives, and in some respects closely resemble the simpler forms of the latter. They are long and leaf-like in shape, occasionally with a rough mid-rib, but more often flat; they have an immature tang either with, or without, rivet-holes. Quite a number of the knives are of curious shapes, a very common type having only one edge and an upturned point; but this may have been made to serve a special purpose, perhaps leather-work. A broad, leaf-shaped blade with two edges was also very popular. Most of the blades appear to have been cut out of sheet metal, and many have been sharpened so often that the edges are pronouncedly concave. A portion of the original wooden handle of one knife, which is in a fair state of preservation, was made of a wood (*Dalbergia sisu*) that is commonly used at the present day for the handles of tools. Mention has already been made of the flint knives so much used by the Indus Valley people and of which so many specimens have been found.