History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c13.23

v1.c13.23

Fig. 3. Sanskrit text regarding production of steel as mentioned in Rgveda in Rica 9.112.2 and source of pigments to decorate the human body as well as surroundings. The recent discovery of stone age tools by Rendell and Dennell (1987) at Jalapur and Soan syncline section near Mohenjodaro site belonging to the Shivalik period has been evaluated to be atleast two million years old i.e. one of the oldest in the world. Rendell and Dennell have opined that this important discovery may change the whole chronology of the evolution and dispersal of humanoids both in Africa and Asia, and possibly even the cultural history of the whole world. So far as the use of metals is concerned the oldest archaeological finding is at the sites belonging to the Harappa and Mohenjodaro culture and at some ancient cairn burials of South India. These sites have been rich in Gold, Silver, Copper and Bronze artifacts. The technological skill of the ancient craftsmen is evident from the famous bronze statue of the dancing girl found at Mohenjodaro and their skill to drill fine holes in mineral beads using a fine hollow metallic drill. The Mohenjo-daro bronze dancing girl was presumably made by the cireperdue process of casting.