History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c36.s1.4

v1.c36.s1.4

An inscribed plate or piece of copper was called *tāmrapatra*, *tāmrasāsana*, *śāsanapatta* (plate for official decree), *dānapatra* (plate for land-grant), depending on the contents of the inscription. Different kinds of historical documents - for example, land-grants, official decrees, sacred books or literary works were engraved on copper, and in many cases, they have been preserved as specimens in different museums.