History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c13.s2.t3.6

v1.c13.s2.t3.6

This is the second metal to have attracted the fancy of ancient Indians as a domestic metal which had no value for the manufacture of tools and weapons. The introduction of this metal in the ancient Indian Culture is relatively late because of its non-availability in the nature as virgin metal, i.e. very rarely it is found in the native form. McDonald writes (see Butts and Coxe, 1967) that the discovery of virgin Silver was probably due to the natural fire in some forest where the exposed Argentiferous Galena (mixed sulphide mineral) was roasted and then reduced resulting into the separation of this metal. Archaeologically speaking very few silver artifacts have been found dating back to Harappan period. A silver dagger belonging to 2700 B.C. from Harappa is being preserved in the National Museum, Delhi.