History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c17.s2.t2.1

v1.c17.s2.t2.1

Small blocks of steatite in light yellow, dark-grey and black were not uncommon in various parts of Mound II. Many of them bear the marks of the saw which had cut them up into shapes suitable for both beads and seals. Pieces that could not be used for any other purpose were ground into powder and then compressed into blocks, from which beads and even occasionally seals were made. This made-up steatite is always white in colour and was probably calcined before compression. It is often very difficult to detect the difference, especially as objects composed of it are more often than not coated with a glaze.