Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c11.s6.t5: Lapis Lazuli

v1.c11.s6.t5.1

The name is derived from the Persian word lajward meaning ‘blue colour’. It is recorded from the neighbouring countries of Tartary, Tibet and China but the best known and most important locality is the valley of the Kokcha, south of Firgamu in Badakshan, the most northernly province of Afghanistan. It is also reported to occur in China, Persia, Tibet and Bokhara. Pascoe concluded that most probably the lapis lazuli of Mohenjo-Daro came from the Badakshan Province of Afghanistan. (MS-II, 677)