History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c17.s4.t1.6

v1.c17.s4.t1.6

Hegde (1969) compared the artifacts from Ahar with the chalcopyrite ore from Khetri, and the similarities led him to conclude that 'copper metal of the Ahar artifacts was probably smelted from the ore of the Aravalli region'. The slag dumps and neighbouring mines indeed suggest that copper was made at Ahar indigenously, but Hegde's argument is unsound. 'The Aravalli region' alluded to by Hegde corresponds to a vast area and ores of more than one type; it is hard to believe that chalcopyrite ore was brought all the way from Khetri to Ahar over a distance of hundreds of kilometres while there were ores in the vicinity.