An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c15.s3.1

v1.c15.s3.1

In India ornaments were treasured not only because of their decorative and intrinsic value but also because they were considered auspicious. It is however strange that in spite of the profusion of ornaments displayed in plastic arts and described in literature actual finds in excavations are scarce. This may largely be attributed to the practice of cremating the dead with ornaments on, as a result of which no graves—treasure house of jewellery as in C. Asia and elsewhere—have been left to the archaeologist.