History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c11.s3.11

v1.c11.s3.11

Following Lal, the distinctive types that can be included under the Copper Hoard category are: flat and shouldered celts (Fig. 11) antennae swords, harpoons, anthropomorphs, hooked swords, and double-edged axes (Fig. 12). The last type has been reported from Bhagrapir (Orissa), where, although they are up to 40cm wide, their thickness is less than 3mm; they could not therefore have been used as tools. Their association with the main Copper Hoard types is, in any case, doubtful. The hooked swords seem to have parallel elsewhere, but closer examination reveals the distinctive features of the Copper-Hoard-associated hooked sword: in the apparently similar Harappan examples, a hole is provided for hafting and not a hook; in the Chalcolithic example from Navdatoli, there is hardly any median ridge, nor any hook. Moreover, the hooked sword has been found in association with such distinctive Copper Hoard types as anthropomorphs, antennae swords, and harpoons from Bahadurabad, Sarthauli, Fategarh, and Niori (all in Uttar Pradesh).