Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c12.s4.13

v1.c12.s4.13

On the other hand, the following facts testify against a very close connection between the two countries. Firstly, the Indus civilization, as far as beads are concerned, was primarily a steatite civilization. More beads were made of this material, but in Mesopotamia very few beads of steatite have been found. Although in Egypt glazed steatite beads were commoner, these were generally small until a much later date, and never reached the size of the larger Indus specimens. Secondly, the technique of painting steatite is not known elsewhere apart from Harappa — either in Mesopotamia, Egypt or Greece. Thirdly, there is the rareness of lapis in the Indus civilization. That it is so rare in Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro but so extremely common at Ur is difficult to account for. Fourthly, no bead of crystalline quartz, amethyst, garnet or obsidian occur at Harappa, though these materials are fairly common in Mesopotamia. Fifthly, the bicone shaped lapis beads at Ur was not found from Harappa. Sixthly, flattened leach beads have not been reported from Harappa, while quite a number of faience, agate, and other stones have been found in Mesopotamia. Seventhly, objects called plumb-bobs have been found in some numbers at Ur, but they have not been found at Harappa. Eighthly, the frit beads are of two varieties, hard and soft. Most of the Mesopotamian beads are made of the soft frit. Neither variety occurs amongst the beads obtained from Harappa.