Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c11.s18: Śilājit
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c11.s18
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Śilājit
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A black coal-like substance found at Mohenjo-Daro has been identified as śilājit or *śilājatu*, an ancient Indian medicine. It is not an ink; from the ancient time even up to the present-day this has been used in India as a cure for various ills. It is said to be a specific medicine for dyspepsia, diabetes, disease of liver and spleen, to regulate the action of the heart and as a good respiratory stimulant and expectorant.
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At the present-day, the name *śilājit* is given to two substances. One is white in colour and is a more or less pure native aluminium sulphate. The second is called black *śilājit* and is of quite a different nature. It exudes from the rocks and though it resembles a bituminous alum ore, there is vegetable matter mixed with it. It is this latter substance that has been found at Mohenjo-Daro. It generally occurs at the upper ranges of the Himalayas, although it is found from the other parts of the world notably near- and middle-east.
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The composition of the Mohenjo-Daro specimen (M) is shown against those of four specimens analysed by Hooper. (JASB, 72, 1903, pp. 98-103).
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| Analysis of Śilājit | | | | | |
| | M | I | II | III | IV |
| Water | 15.99 | 9.85 | 15.90 | 11.15 | 10.99 |
| Organic matter | 55.24 | 55.20 | 49.86 | 51.55 | 56.86 |
| Ash | 28.77 | 34.95 | 34.24 | 37.30 | 32.15 |
| | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 |
| | | | | | |
| Ash | M | I | II | III | IV |
| Silica | 8.23 | 1.35 | 1.62 | 18.10 | 10.15 |
| Alumina | 2.43 | 2.24 | 1.08 | 6.00 | 4.64 |
| Ferric oxide | 1.44 | 4.36 | | | |
| Lime | 7.31 | 4.36 | 3.96 | 3.86 | 3.88 |
| Magnesia | 0.32 | 1.50 | 0.52 | 0.15 | 1.34 |
| Alkalies | 9.04 | 13.18 | 14.32 | 4.78 | 6.91 |
| Carbonic acid etc. | not determined | 11.51 | 12.13 | 3.69 | 4.83 |
| | (Analysis of M. by Hamid) | | | (MS-II, 587-88, 690) |
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With regard to the variety and quantity of minerals and metals used, Mohenjo-Daro was definitely the most prominent amongst the Harappan sites. The importance of its urban character excelled that of Harappa, Kalibangan or Lothal.
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The question however arises whether the minerals and metals used at Mohenjo-Daro were imported or produced within the sub-continent. No firm answer can be provided to this question for all the items. Some of the gem minerals, such as lapis lazuli, turquoise, etc. were found in small quantities, and these were probably imported from Afghanistan. The local inhabitants specialised in etching and imitating carnelian for bead-making.
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Steatite was not only locally available but also locally processed, glazed and heat-treated for the manufacture of beads and seals. The extensive uses of nepheline-sodalite rock, Jaisalmer stone etc. indicate close contact of the Mohenjo-Daro people with the inhabitants of the Rajasthan area. Possibly the bulk of copper ingots also came from Rajasthan.
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Some other items of local origin and processing were limestone, gypsum, alabaster, manufacture of faience, vitreous paste etc.
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Excavations in the DK area of section G conclusively prove that copper and bronze items and castings were manufactured from the Indian Ores such as sulphide-oxide ores of copper, löllingite (containing arsenic) etc. Arsenic-based bronze could be made locally, whereas possibly tin had to be imported, since it was quite scarce in the area. Lead ore (cerussite and argentiferrous lead), iron ore (hematite) etc. were commonly known. The inhabitants knew how to obtain lead and silver in metallic form. Various uses of metallic lead were known.
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The DK area of section G was probably a suburban industrial area, which was characterised by the uses of furnaces and crucibles, manufacture of beads, seals and potteries, and even purification of crude metal ingots (which were brought from the mining areas of Baluchistan and Rajasthan) for subsequent fabrication of tools and castings.
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The indigenous character of mineral and metal processing in the Harappan civilization would be further revealed from our specific discussions on Harappa, Chanhu-Daro, Lothal, etc. in the following chapters.