Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c11.s19: References
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c11.s19
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References
v1.c11.s19.1
J. Marshall, *Mohenjo-Daro and the Indus Civilisations*, Vol. I (MS-I); Vol. II (MS-II) Indological Book House, Varanasi 1973 Edition.
v1.c11.s19.2
E.J.H. Mackay, *Further Excavations at Mohenjo-Daro*, Indological Book Corporation, 1976, Vol. I (MCK).
v1.c11.s19.3
It is very difficult to say who the people were and what was definitely the most important cause of the decline of the urban character of the Indus Valley. It is generally believed that the decline was due to the drying up of the rivers, or to the change in the course of the rivers, or to the exhaustion of the soil, or to the deforestation of the surrounding areas, or to the invasion of the Aryans, or to the recurring floods, or to the devastating epidemics.
v1.c11.s19.4
It is not yet fully established that the Indus Valley culture was destroyed by the Aryans. There is no evidence of any large-scale destruction of the cities by the invaders. The inhabitants of the Indus Valley might have migrated to some other regions.
v1.c11.s19.5
Some of these items of local origin and production were undoubtedly manufactured for trade.
v1.c11.s19.6
The Indus Valley people were familiar with copper and bronze. Items such as copper-bronze, copper-tin, copper-arsenic, copper-lead, copper-nickel, and copper-antimony were used. It is known that the Indus Valley people were familiar with the smelting of ores.
v1.c11.s19.7
The decline of the Indus Valley civilization was probably a gradual process, determined by the exhaustion of the soil, the drying up of the rivers, and even the exhaustion of the copper, lead, and tin, giving rise to the necessity for the importation of these metals from other areas.
v1.c11.s19.8
The character of the Indus Valley civilization would be further represented by the following:
v1.c11.s19.9
References
v1.c11.s19.10
¹ Marshall, J., Mohenjo-Daro and the Indus Civilization, 1931.
v1.c11.s19.11
² Mackay, E. J. H., Further Excavations at Mohenjo-Daro, 1938.