History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c12.s1.t11: South Lode
History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c12.s1.t11
- Language
- English
South Lode
v1.c12.s1.t11.1
The South lode has only one mine opening (old or ancient), but the surface shows many infilled trenches. Probably the quarrying is post-medieval. Underground at a depth of around 100m a number of ancient workings have been intersected; mainly following shoots of lead ore in the footwall of the calc silicate and the underlying graphite schist. These workings are predominantly fireset, mostly near vertical. In one small section timbers up to 25 cm diameter and over 4m long were found, partly worked on the ends by an adze to allow them to drop into slots. This type of timber may have been used either for heavy support, or for spanning large vertical opening, as in one case, a rectangular section shaft 3.5 m × 2.8 m in size, Another chamber had a 3m long timber morticed ladder linking one level with another, with rungs about 45 cm apart. Nearby firesetting used a timber plarform so as to attack the wall above floor level.
v1.c12.s1.t11.2
A shaft like chamber was some 20 m high, 7 m wide at the bottom and 5 m higher up. A ladder about 3m long links it to another opening.
v1.c12.s1.t11.3
The two shafts around have ensured air circulation, whilst the timber beams across the main part of the shaft would have continued to divide air flows as well as providing ladder stagings.
v1.c12.s1.t11.4
Fig.9.A view of chimney foot-holds
v1.c12.s1.t11.5
The workings continue below water table for some 80-90 m at least. For drainage, presumably oxen or buffalo may have been used on the very large shafts to draw water. Remains of woven baskets, and ropes about 2.5 cm diameter have been found in the workings.