The Indus Civilization (Cambridge History of India, Supplementary Volume) c14.30

c14.30

in length, vaguely recalling the “shoe-last” hoes of the Danube, may have been used for agricultural purposes, but are not numerous. On the other hand, chert (occasionally agate or chalcedony) ribbon-flakes struck from prepared cores occur in great abundance. An actuarial analysis of 1408 specimens from Mohenjo-daro showed that the great majority bore no signs of retouching; but “22 were retouched along one side, 14 were retouched on both sides, including 3 retouched and worked to form a pointed awl-like tool...6 were nicked on one side and 7 on both sides at the butt, possibly to take a fastening, and 2 were worked into a definite tang”.³ Some eight of the retouched flakes were worn smooth all over, and the peculiarly brilliant gloss produced on the edge by the cutting of wood or corn has occasionally been detected. Incidentally, a number of the nuclei were also polished and had probably been used as burnishers on metal (pl. XXIVB, right). Reference will be made later to stone drills for the manufacture of beads. Finally, mace-heads of alabaster, sandstone or limestone are not infrequent (p. 56). Metal cannot be described as scarce on Harappan sites; the fairly abundant use of copper or bronze for bowls, cups and dishes (fig. 11) is alone sufficient to point the contrary; but the liberal use of stone suggests that the importation of copper and tin was an appreciable economic factor.