History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c38.s2.t1.1

v1.c38.s2.t1.1

The archaeological sites of Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Chanhudaro and Lothal bear testimony that weighing balances were known. It consisted of a metallic beam (copper or bronze) with two suspending pans from its two ends (Mackey, 1938, pp.976-77; Mackey, 1976, pp.178, 293; Vat, 1940, pt.CXVII and CXVIII; Marshall 1931). Berriman (1953, pp.33-35) has analysed 288 specimens of small cubes available from Mohenjodaro and Harappa and drawn a frequency chart as parts of 1 unicia = 27.2 gms. These weights are 1.7, 3.4, 6.8, 13.6, 27.2, 54.4, 136 (gms) etc. The beams of weighing balance were uniform, sometimes thicker in the middle and tapering at the end. The beam had no fulcrum hole in the centre. A string was perhaps tied at the middle for holding it during weighing. The pans had two or three holes for suspension. Pans with two holes were possibly used for bulky materials which one could hold by touching it, whereas pans with three holes were used for weighing grains and commodities. The Mohenjodaro had two types, one similar to Harappan types and the other is of smaller type (scale pans of copper or bronze). The Chanhudaro and Lothal sites have also small pan and beam types. These smaller types were perhaps used for weighing gold dust and other precious metals, for these could weigh micro-weights (Sharma and Bhardwaj, 1989).