Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c10.s4.1

v1.c10.s4.1

Aichinson (1960) believed that copper metallurgy was discovered around 4300 BC in the region between the Elburz mountains and the Caspian sea. Tal-i-Iblis in Mashiz Valley (Kirman Range) in Iran has yielded crucibles for smelting ores dated 4000 BC. (Caldwell, 1967) On this basis, D.P. Agarwal (1968, 1971) conceded that copper metallurgy came to India 2000 years later than Iran: ‘The metallurgical know-how had already diffused from Iran (by third millennium BC)’ and ‘any independent origins (of copper metallurgy in India) are precluded’. (D.P. Agrawal, 1971: 232 and 239)