[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v1.c21.s14 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c21.s14: 16.14 Steatite An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c21.s14 - **Language:** English ### 16.14 Steatite ### [v1.c21.s14.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c21.s14.1) Steatite, also known as soapstone or potstone, is a massive variety of talc—a hydrated silicate of magnesium—and is found in India in foliated or granular masses. Natural steatite has a greasy feel and a pearly lustre and is very soft, thus lending itself to fine carving. Generally of greyish-green or brown colour, it has been used from early times for the manufacture of beads, seals, caskets and ornamental objects. Steatite seals, beads, statuettes, discs, etc., have been found in large numbers at Mohenjo-daro and Harappa. In India many Harappa \[4.9\] and post-Harappa sites have yielded a wide variety of steatite products. ### [v1.c21.s14.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c21.s14.2) Of the prehistoric sites at which steatite objects have been found in India mention may be made of: KALIBANGAN I (pre-Harappa \[4.8\]), beads; KALIBANGAN II (Harappa), beads including disc beads and seals; LOTHAL (Harappa), beads, Persian Gulf seal, bowls, bangles, heart-shaped ornaments, ear-rings and a handle affixed to a copper rod; ALAMGIRPUR (Harappa), beads; RANGPUR II A (Harappa), beads including disc beads; SURKOTADA (Harappa), beads; DESALPUR (Harappa), seals; ROJDI I (Harappa), beads; SOMNATH I (Harappa), microbeads; SURKOTADA II and III and SANGHOL (late Harappa), beads; CHIRAND and TEKKALAKOTA (Neolithic \[4.6\]), beads; SINGANAPALLI (Neolithic-Chalcolithic), disc beads, microbeads, bangles; AHAR² I, GILUND, NAVDATOLI, NEVASA, ERAN and MAHISDAL (Chalcolithic \[4.14\]), beads and at the last site bangles as well. The later sites include VAIŚĀLĪ (pre-NBPW and NBPW \[4.18.1\]), caskets, bangles; RAJGIR (NBPW), amulet plaques; NÓh (NBPW), caskets; UJJAIN and CHANDRAKETUGARH (early historical), caskets. Steatite is often the material for relic caskets \[12.8\]. ### [v1.c21.s14.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c21.s14.3) The analyses of four Harappa objects, (1) Mohenjodaro statuette, (2) Harappa disc, (3) LOTHAL bead and (4) KALIBANGAN bead, are as follows per cent: SiO₂—(1) 57·23, (2) 57·99, (3) 61·46, (4) 62·60; Fe₂O₃+Al₂O₃—(1) 3·69, (2) 4·85, (3) 3·04, (4) 1·73; CaO—(1) 6·39, (2) 4·31, (3) 0·22, (4) 0·41; MgO—(1) 28·99, (2) 27·20, (3) 32·98, (4) 33·62; CuO–(1) 0·46, (2) 1·09, (3) and (4) nil; H₂O⁺—(1) 1·36, (2) 2·01, (3) 2·30 , (4) 0·84; Na O + K₂O (by difference)— (1) 1·88, (2) 3·54, (3) nil, (4) 0·80. ### [v1.c21.s14.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c21.s14.4) Physically the objects have a hardness of about 6 and a specific gravity of about 2·75. The chemical composition and specific gravity correspond to those of talc, but the hardness is much higher than that of natural talc. When steatite is heated it loses part of combined water (H₂O⁻) and becomes harder. When heated to about 1100° C. The hardness rises to about 6. It is concluded therefore that these objects were heated to a high temperature in order to harden them and render them more durable and abrasion-resistant. The heat also whitened them considerably and largely removed the green and brown colours although in section the original colours can be seen. Objects have however been found with a hardness of about 2 which is the hardness of unburnt talc. Such objects were evidently not subjected to any heat treatment. ### [v1.c21.s14.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c21.s14.5) Both massive and powdered steatite were used for making various objects. Steatite caskets were made by carving. Beads, bangles and seals were made by moulding steatite paste into desired shapes and baking them. The baked material was then cut to shape with a sharp tool. The cylindrical and other beads were probably made by rolling steatite paste on a thread and cutting the moulded and fired material to shape. Seals were similarly made. The glazing effect was probably produced by firing the seals after coating them with a paste of soda. The use of very fine cutting tools such as saw is attested by the numerous microbeads found at many sites. Marks and striations left by the cutting implements are noticeable on the surface of many objects. ### [v1.c21.s14.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c21.s14.6) For sites see respective entries in vol. II.—B.B. LAL (Dr) ## Linked texts (20) - [Harappā](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.harappa) - [Mohenjo-daro](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.mohenjo-daro) - [Lothal](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.lothal) - [Kālībangan](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.kalibangan) - [Surkotada](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.surkotada) - [Rangpur](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.rangpur) - [Rojdi](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.rojdi) - [Alamgirpur](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.alamgirpur) - [Vaiśālī](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.vaisali) - [Chandraketugarh](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.chandraketugarh) - [Nevasa](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.nevasa) - [Chirand](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.chirand) - [Gilund](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.gilund) - [Navdatoli](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.navdatoli) - [Tekkalakota](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.tekkalakota) - [Noh](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.noh) - [Mahisdal](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.mahisdal) - [Singanapalli](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.singanapalli) - [Somnath](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.somnath-madhya-pradesh) - [Rajgiri](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.rajgiri) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c21.s14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c21.s14) · Pramāṇa