Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c10.s1.t3: Gem Minerals
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c10.s1.t3
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Gem Minerals
v1.c10.s1.t3.1
At Mehargarh, gem minerals are noticed from the very early Period. In the Period I, the gem minerals have been marked, although very little in quantity. In this level, among the grave goods, beads have been unearthed. These beads are made out of various local stones and imported turquoise. Sometimes a basket coated with bitumen was included and placed near the body filled with perishable goods. Apart from this, there were personal ornaments also, such as string of beads, several of them made of imported turquoise and lapis lazuli. In the Period II, although no such evidences of bead has been found, yet one interesting thing, viz., a workshop where beads were manufactured out of soapstone has been uncovered. The flint drills and wasted flakes conclusively prove the presence of local industrial workshops. Beads were indeed found in different manufacturing stages. Beads made out of shell were also recovered. An open space was found covered with layers of animal bones mixed with ashes. The space yielded more than 100 bone awls and several grooved stones used in shaping their points. The area clearly shows certain characteristics of an industrial establishment. A workshop for soapstone beads was established in Period II. Flint drills and waste flakes were noticed.
v1.c10.s1.t3.2
In the Period III crafts show marked development; lapis lazuli, turquoise and carnelian were worked into beads with green cylindrical jasper drills. The jasper bits of this period are the earliest specimen known of a type that was used later during the third millennium BC at Shahr-i-Sokhta, Shahdad and at Chanhu-Daro. These are some very fine micro-drills indicating the use of low-drills working and engraving ornaments in shell.
v1.c10.s1.t3.3
After the two barren periods, viz., Period IV and V, the evidence of the use of gem minerals comes in the Period VI. In this period both beads of lapis lazuli and turquoise have been found. In the next period some grave goods included one necklace of white baked kaolin beads alternating with carnelian and lapis lazuli beads and bracelets of white tiny beads. The Period VIII is a post-pre-Harappan level. Its remains have largely been found in the graveyards with objects of semi-precious stones.
v1.c10.s1.t3.4
Thus, it is found that Mehargarh has yielded lapis beads from pre-ceramic neolithic levels to Pre-Harappan chalcolithic levels. In the Period III (chalcolithic levels) of Mehargarh we have ample evidence of lapis working. Like lapis lazuli, turquoise was also an important item of luxury. There was a workshop of turquoise at Mehargarh. So it is found that these two gem minerals were very much used and even processed by the inhabitants of Mehargarh.