Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c12.s5: Other Special Materials
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c12.s5
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Other Special Materials
v1.c12.s5.1
There are few materials which were exclusively found from Harappa. One such object is mica. In the Mound F three such pieces of mica have been found. Even the terracotta beads of Harappa contain a large proportion of mica. The particles of mica, although so numerous, are very small. (MSV, 40, 407)
v1.c12.s5.2
Amongst the other objects of special material, unearthed from the Mound F of Harappa, are coral, Favia fabus common in the Indian ocean, and a piece of yellow arsenic (*haritāl*). This arsenic as we know was probably used both as a medicine and poison and also as an alloying element to harden copper tools. (MSV, 80)
v1.c12.s5.3
In the area G, it has been observed that many antiquities found here are liable to crumble since this area of Harappa is highly charged with saltpetre. (MSV, 80, 192-93)
v1.c12.s5.4
At Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, inlay objects have been found in very large numbers, mostly in shell, less frequently in faience, burnt steatite, red sandstone, yellow Jaisalmer stone and alabaster. Thus from the Mound F, an interesting group of inlay objects made of burnt steatite and faience was found sticking to some broken copper objects. From this area also, a rectangular block of yellow Jaisalmer limestone, a rectangular slab of this material and a fragment of curved tube of yellow Jaisalmer stone has been reported. Among stones found from here, red sandstone, faience cylinder, yellow Jaisalmer and *sang-i-abrī* of dark red colour are worth mentioning. (MSV, 461-66)
v1.c12.s5.5
From the Mound AB, an appreciable quantity of charcoal was found from the burnt down read and bamboo huts of poor people. On careful study it has been established that sample (1) is the charcoal of a *Bambusa* as inferred from the nature of the closed and scattered vascular bundles seen in the cross-section and the hollow internodes. Sample (2) is the charcoal of saccharum arundinaceum compared with a cross-section of the same from a herbarium specimen and found to agree. Sample (3) is the charcoal of a pine wood, confirmed by the presence of resin ducts in the numerous annular rings.
v1.c12.s5.6
A curiously carved stone object of an unusual stone was found to be made of light bluish green chalcedony. The cavities and brownish patches contain calcite. It resembles material which fills up amygdaloidal cavities in basic igneous rocks. It may have been obtained from Kathiawar.
v1.c12.s5.7
A small lump of decomposed orpiment, a mineral, trisulphide of arsenic used as yellow dye, was found from Mound F. A lump of rose coloured grain was found in a faience vase; it was reported that the black crystalline substance is hematite, ferric oxide, mixed with quartz. It yields a deep red powder when ground and it was meant evidently for use as red ochre. Dirty white paste of cerussite, lead carbonate, found inside a vase, might have been used as a face powder.
v1.c12.s5.8
Two cakes of red ochre were found from great granary area in Mound F. Manganese and iron mixed in varying proportions in the natural ore are also found used on the glazed coloured bands applied to the surface of faience vases. Sana Ullah has analysed blue and green earth, white faience and mortars found at Harappa:
v1.c12.s5.9
*Blue Earth*
v1.c12.s5.10
| Silica | - | 57.89 per cent |
| Alumina | - | 18.70 per cent |
| Titanium dioxide | - | 0.88 per cent |
| Ferric oxide | - | 4.38 per cent |
| Lime | - | 0.35 per cent |
| Magnesia | - | 2.93 per cent |
| Potassium oxide | - | 9.80 per cent |
| Combined water | - | 4.32 per cent |
| Moisture | - | 1.97 per cent |
v1.c12.s5.11
*Green Earth*
v1.c12.s5.12
| Silica | - | 49.59 per cent |
| Alumina | - | 15.27 per cent |
| Ferric oxide | - | 7.95 per cent |
v1.c12.s5.13
Magnesia - 4.31 per cent Combined water - 10.05 per cent Moisture - 2.82 per cent
v1.c12.s5.14
*White Faience Ribbed Bangle* Silica - 87.45 per cent Alumina - 6.57 per cent Lime - 0.10 per cent Magnesia - 1.09 per cent Water - 0.73 per cent Alkalies - 4.56 per cent
v1.c12.s5.15
Mortars found in Harappa (seven samples) assayed 26-56 per cent calcium carbonate, 0.44-10.6 per cent magnesium carbonate, 34-61 per cent clay, up to 4 per cent moisture, and in one case 57 per cent gypsum. Materials made of shell were quite common. (MSV, 467-69)