History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c12.s1.t6.6

v1.c12.s1.t6.6

Deep underground extensive workings exist at Zawarmala which can be followed up dip to very close to surface. The highest, perhaps, the oldest workings are formed of small arched chambers, some 3 m across and approximately 3 m high. Access is very constricted, at times one has to crawl to pass through it. It is blocked entirely at the upper end. The method of excavation seems to have combined fire-setting and hammer ‘gad’ work, with possibly the use of small picks to extract ore in narrow places. Another old and highest working is some 30 m long and 5 to 8 m high and wide. There are characteristic fire hollows in the walls, and rounded roof and pillars of firesetting. The sloping floor has been worked up dip by means of ‘benching’ using fire holes on three benches following each other. Lower still in the workings, the mine has been worked almost entirely by fire setting with very little ‘gad’ work evident. The pillars are 5 to 10 m apart and upto 5 m high, often infilled partially and sometimes wholly with dumped waste. Through the area a clear and well made path has been made, with stone and wood steps where it is steep. A sample of wood from the area has given the age 2149 years before present.