An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c40.118

v2.c40.118

Stone sculptures, large and small, are not lacking, though Nālandā does not seem to have had a lapidary atelier. But it was certainly an important centre of bronze-casting. Over 500 bronzes of Buddha and Buddhist divinities of Tantrayāna-Vajrayāna, of which Nālandā became the focus in Pāla times, have been recovered. They form a distinctive school, the influence of which spread, along with Buddhism itself, to s.-e. Asia (Barnet Kempers, 1933). A brick-built smelting furnace has been found near Temple 13; it is made of four chambers in one square divided by short walls, each of the chambers provided with two flues for fire to burn and air to pass. The find of burnt metal pieces, slag of metal and similar objects within it shows that it was used for casting metal.