History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c39.s2.4

v1.c39.s2.4

The Rgveda described in part the chalcolithic culture in the foothill of the Sivalik mountains extending along the valleys of the Sarasvatī river system. It notes the Pre-Harappan transition from the neolithic to the chalcolithic period : aśmanmayi vasi (10.101.10) or stone-made implement to vasim ayasim (8.29.3) or metallic axes. In the very first hymn (1.1.1) the text eulogizes fire as ratnadhātamam or cradle of gems meaning gold, silver or copper. We have noted in the Rgveda the following words/items related to minerals and metals (Biswas, Chakravarty and Biswas, pp. 49-66):