An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s9.40

v1.c9.s9.40

From the technological point of view the Indus people were in the Bronze Age, though the use of chert blades still persisted, which has sometimes led to the civilization being labelled ‘chalcolithic’. The fact that even vessels were sometimes made of copper or bronze shows the full use of these metals. Bronze was produced by the addition of tin which has been noted to be as much as 8 to 12% in some samples [16.9.5]. The metal tools for agricultural and domestic use [6] included axes, saws, sickles, knives, chisels, razor-blades, fish-hooks and the like. For offence of defence or for hunting, arrowheads, spears and short swords were used [19.1]. However the small number in which swords occur and the lack of items like shields and armours has suggested to scholars that the Indus people were essentially non-warlike and peace-loving.