An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s8.21

v1.c17.s8.21

From the above survey it is evident that considerable attention was paid for the relic caskets and the deposits contained within them. The caskets were of various shapes, and the materials used were different kinds of stones including crystal and beryl, copper (or bronze), silver, gold and earthenware. The selection of the material, finish of the caskets and deposits depended not only on the importance of the persons whose remains were to be consecrated but also on the inclination and means of the donors. Thus at RATNAGIRI relic caskets were mostly earthen vases or plain stone blocks with sockets. In Stūpa 3 of this place the reliquary was just a brick with a cavity, its lid being a fragmentary brick. In some *stūpas* there were no caskets at all, the bones having been deposited within a socket made in the stone platform or drum of the *stūpas*; the sockets were usually plugged by stone pieces.