An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c21.s9.13

v1.c21.s9.13

Smith 1905, reported tin alloying (6 to 13%) in some Copper Hoard examples in the British Museum. But so far we have not been able to get any evidence of tin in alloying from the examined artefacts from SHAHABAD, KAMDERA, Dhanbad, DARGAMA, HAMI and BAHADRABAD. However the celts from HAMI and Dhanbad show 5 to 8% As. These are the only examples of As alloying in the whole range of the Copper Hoards so far and may have been used as a deoxidizer for casting. Only in two instances from HAMI is there more than 1% Pb. Lal, 1951, p. 24, also reported the absence of tin in the BISAULI anthropomorph. Thus all the recent analyses of definite Copper Hoard specimens show absence of tin alloying. But it goes to the credit of the Copper Hoard technology that despite the use of pure copper, which is so difficult to cast, they could carry out complicated casting of harpoons, etc.