History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c17.s2.t1.9

v1.c17.s2.t1.9

The carnelian beads were made from roughly flaked stone blanks averaging 0.58 inch in diameter and 0.21 inch thick. Each of these beads has been bored with a chert drill. All the holes were splintered rather than cut, and were necessarily smoothed down and polished later. Before this was done however, the heads were shaped by grinding. A number of these were probably stung on a thread, or more likely on a piece of copper wire, and then rolled to and fro on grit-stones of various grades, each bead being allowed sufficient play for its rounded edge to be properly formed.