Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c13.s1: Metals
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c13.s1
- Language
- English
Metals
v1.c13.s1.1
Mound II at Chanhu-Daro yielded a large quantity of tools and implements, both of copper and bronze. Altogether four large hoards, containing from sixteen to twenty-eight objects each, were unearthed and in addition to these, a number of smaller deposits of over six objects each were also discovered. As no analysis of them have yet been made, it is not possible to say how many of these objects are of bronze and how many of copper. Bronze was however almost as common as copper in the lowest levels of Mohenjo-Daro and there is every reason to believe that at Chanhu-Daro the same proportions will hold good. (MCK, 174)
v1.c13.s1.2
Most of the copper and bronze hoards unearthed at Chanhu-Daro probably originated from the quarter of the city inhabited by the metal-workers, for unfinished castings as well as ingots were discovered in some of the hoards. Although no furnace that could have been used for smelting and metal casting have yet been found, it is quite possible that this kind of work was carried on well outside the city and brought to be finished. (MCK, 175, 52) Among the copper and bronze objects, the mentionable things are copper jar cover, scale-pans and beams, bronze blade axes, saw, spearhead, daggers, small knives, rajors, arrow-heads, bronze fish-hook, copper and bronze awls, rods, bronze stave-heads and plumb-bob.
v1.c13.s1.3
Although the ornaments unearthed at Chanhu-Daro are comparatively few in number and consists of bracelets, pendants, rings and pins in copper and bronze only, they form nevertheless an interesting collection. (MCK, 190) Apart from these fewer ornaments, only two ingots have come to light in course of excavation at Chanhu-Daro. The metal of the first one is bronze and it is formed by pouring the molten metal into a vertical hole in the ground. The second one closely resembles certain ingots from Mohenjo-Daro. It has a flat top and a rounded base. Even small masses of lead of irregular shape were found in various parts of Mound II. It is not yet known for what purpose this metal was used. (MCK, 187-88)
v1.c13.s1.4
Only one iron object (iron arrowhead) has been found from Chanhu-Daro. It has no sign of a mid-rib, and has lost a part of its tang. The excavator thinks this to be of later Jhangar period on the ground that some of the pottery of that culture resembles certain Iron Age wares from Southern India, and it has come from the upper level of the mound. (MCK, 189)
v1.c13.s1.5
Gold and silver were not found so abundantly as in Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa. Rather it can be said that these were very much conspicuous by their absence.