Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c11.s4.5

v1.c11.s4.5

Turquoise and turquoise-matrix were also occasionally employed for beads at Mohenjo-Daro. The inhabitants also made extensive use of various varieties of agate such as carnelian, chalcedony, onyx, etc. for making beads. Some of these stones seem to have been tinted artificially-chiefly the beautiful red carnelian with designs upon it in white. The tinting of agate is still an industry in India. Amethyst has been found at Mohenjo-Daro, both in the form of beads and also in rough nodules. There was the very extensive use of steatite at Mohenjo-Daro both in bead-making and for other objects; it may be noted that steatite was often coated with blue glaze. The steatite beads were more common than those of any other material, and there is no doubt that the people of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa had access to plentiful supplies. Even stones with dull appearance such as limestone and alabaster were made into beads at Mohenjo-Daro. Doubtless, beads made of these materials were worn only by the poor. Several unfinished beads found at Mohenjo-Daro, all of agate, show that these were shaped and smoothed before being bored. (MS-II, 524,536)