An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c11.s29.1

v1.c11.s29.1

The earliest evidence of the existence of weights and measures, which indicate a mechanism of trade and commerce, goes back to Harappa times [4.9]. The objects, variously made of chert, semiprecious stones, copper and terracotta, include weights of various sizes in gradations, measures and accessories, such as scale pans, balances, weight rods, measuring pots and graded linear measurement scales. Weights are known from KALIBANGAN, LOTHAL, ROJDI, ROPAR and SURKOTADA, as also at Mohenjo-daro and Harappa etc. At BARGAON there is a specimen from the late Harappa [4.10] levels. They are cubical in shape, chipped to the required size and smoothly polished with neatly cut ends. At LOTHAL, taking smallest weight as the unit, they are in the simple ratio of 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, etc. Another set of weights from the same place consists of truncated spheroids having a regular ratio. [According to Hemmy, 1931, at Mohenjo-daro and Harappa 'the system is binary in smaller weights and then decimal, being in the ratios 1, 2, 1/3 × 8, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 160, 200, 320, 640, 1600.']