An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s18.t1.5

v1.c9.s18.t1.5

Carbonized grains of wheat, rice and other grains have been found at many sites. But the abundance of bone, ivory, copper and iron arrowheads and microliths suggests that hunting also must have been not only a pastime but a means of additional food supply. Together with stone and terracotta balls they could have been used as missiles as well in wars, which were very frequent in this formative historical period. Iron weapons should have been much in use, but it is important to note that only a few iron objects, much less identifiable ones other than nails, knives, arrowheads, one or two lance- and spear-heads and daggers have been found in the excavations. This is rather intriguing even making allowance for the possibility of corrosion and virtual disintegration of the metal in the soil. Is it possible that iron, like elephants, was costly, and its use was initially restricted for military use, which would explain the nature of iron objects from the excavations? Were iron tools of agriculture and smithy not yet in general use? Were large iron axes and saws not utilized in cutting trees in the sub-Himalayan region? All this lack of evidence may further suggest that iron technology probably did not play that dominant role in the economy as has been thought by some. From SONPUR in the long NBPW period (600-100 B.C.) we have broken and corroded pieces of a lance, a broken spear, a leaf-shaped arrowhead, fragments of a rusted chisel, broken knife blades, fragmentary pieces of an axe, a socketed arrowhead and a medium-sized ring. Copper objects are more numerous and varied, and there is hardly any copper tool or weapon which has completely yielded to its iron counterpart. Copper vessels like bowls, spoons, bells and ornamments such as ear rings, bangles, hair clips and antimony rods predominate, there being only a few copper nails and arrowheads.