History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c17.s2.t2.2

v1.c17.s2.t2.2

Although Hoarce Beck was not disposed to agree that reformed steatite was used by the people of the Harappa culture, F.A. Bannister of the Mineral Department of British Museum reported that steatite paste would become indistinguishable from the natural material after being subjected to a very high temperature. In ancient India, the steatite beads were sometimes heated to a temperature exceeding 1200°C, and it has been proved that (the heap of ) minute beads were treated to this degree of heat. These must have been composed of a paste which could be forced thorough fine tubular instruments.