History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c24.s1.5

v1.c24.s1.5

The Vedic literature mentions *abhri* as a digging tool (Roy, pp.130-131). It was hollow and was a span or sometimes a cubit long. It was held by its upper part. Generally it was sharp on one side, but sometimes had sharp edges on both sides of its lower portion. It was used both for levelling the land and for digging holes. Though generally translated as spade, some scholars suggest it to be a mattock and not real spade. Vedic hymns dedicated to *abhri* testify to the appreciation of its utility.