Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c10.s3.t2.10

v1.c10.s3.t2.10

The butt portion of the celts have round indentations, the numbers of which (4-16) are in different combinations of 1-6 dots. These numbers probably reflect the contemporary system of simple arithmetic. The indentations were made with pointed copper drills which have also been found in the site. Such indentation marks were found in the later day celts of Kayatha and Navdatoli. That lead alloying might have been done during the melting of the original ingot is suggested from the analysis of a typical copper celt: copper 97 per cent, lead 1 per cent, nickel 0.5, arsenic 0.3, silver 0.2, zinc 0.1 and tin 0.1 per cent. Zinc, silver and other elements might have come from the local ore constituents.