The Indus Civilization c9.55

c9.55

Very few agricultural implements have survived, no doubt because they were almost entirely of wood. One or two roughly chipped objects of chert, not unlike unfinished celts in appearance and averaging in size 11 × 4½ × 3 inches, have been discovered. These have double-sloped edges, and as they are much too heavy to have served as weapons they are probably ploughshares, and were very likely quite efficient in the stoneless, alluvial soil of the Indus valley. Flint flakes, set in a wooden handle, such as the specimens found on early Egyptian and Sumerian sites, seem never to have been used, perhaps because copper was so plentiful and cheap. Two incomplete curved blades of this material from Mohenjo-daro are probably sickles.