Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c13.s7: Other Minerals/Metals

Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c13.s7

Language: English

Other Minerals/Metals

Haematite

v1.c13.s7.t1.1

Haematite was used for different purposes. First of all it was used for making paints. For the decoration of Chanhu-Daro potteries earth colours only were employed: red ochre for making the various shades of red and manganiferous haematite for the blacks and purples. The browns may have been prepared from another kind of haematite or by mixing the colours together. (MCK 107) Apart from this, there were also haematite seals and beads at Chanhu-Daro. (MCK, 144, 209) The heavy deposit found in the base of a storage jar from Chanhu-Daro was analysed. Microscopic examination and chemical analysis showed this sample to consist mainly of calcite (crystalline calcium carbonate) with a small proportion of sharp angular sand composed of grains of quartz, hornblende and haematite. The whole was stained brownish by some non-oxide material disseminated through the material. (MCK, 251) The material could have been some eye powder.

Red Ochre

v1.c13.s7.t2.1

Red ochre was generally used for making the various shades of red on the pottery. Thus from Chanhu-Daro a good number of potteries have been found with red slip on their body. Thus from this it may be surmised that this red ochre was quite prevalent among the potters of Chanhu-Daro.

Lime

v1.c13.s7.t3.1

The use of lime was not well practised at Chanhu-Daro. It was sometimes used to convert agates or defective carnelians into uniform red variety of carnelian by heating them in a crucible with either unslaked lime or iron filings. (MCK, 214)

Vitreous Paste

v1.c13.s7.t4.1

Unlike as in Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, vitreous paste was not so much well prevalent at Chanhu-Daro. Only in two cases we find its use; one in the case of bead and the other in bangles. Three samples of beads which have been unearthed from Chanhu-Daro are of a type that was particularly favoured by the people of Harappa culture: made in faience or the more enduring vitreous paste. Similarly few faience bangles were made in moulds and formed of a soft light grey paste coated with a thick glaze. Another hard core specimen is made of a paste which has a certain amount of glaze and was converted by firing into a hard vitreous substance not unlike glass in appearance and of a uniform tint throughout. (MCK, 206, 191)

v1.c13.s7.t4.2

Small masses of lead of irregular shape were found in various parts of Mound II at Chanhu-Daro; but it is not yet known for what purpose this metal was used. Eye powders which were found from two cosmetic jars did not contain either lead or antimony compounds. The lead masses could have been used as net sinkers.

v1.c13.s7.t4.3

Kiln/Furnaces

v1.c13.s7.t4.4

An exhaustive discussion has already been made while commenting on beads. In course of that discussion it was stated that at the Mound II of Chanhu-Daro, although no trace of furnace has come into light, yet a series of well-built flues has been revealed. There was no ash anywhere in the flues, and the excavators were not sure about the possible sources of heat to these flues, since there was no trace of a furnace nearby. The purpose of this building (where the flues have been found) posed a riddle but a possible clue to its use is presented by the number of beads, many unfinished, that lay scattered about on the earthen floor. There is no doubt that the building served the purpose of a bead factory. (MCK, 41-44)

v1.c13.s7.t4.5

Apart from these flues, no furnace which could have been used for smelting and metal casting have yet been found: so the excavators think that it is quite possible that this kind of work was carried on well outside the city and brought in to be finished. (MCK, 52)

v1.c13.s7.t4.6

Not only this, according to the excavator no kiln that could have been used for pottery has as yet come to light at Chanhu-Daro; probably these were placed well outside the city. (MCK, 52, 104)

v1.c13.s7.t4.7

Unlike most of the other Harappan sites, Chanhu-Daro got one special feature, i.e., the facilities for the manufacture of bead. Excavation has clearly proved that the bead-making industry flourished at Chanhu-Daro.

v1.c13.s7.t4.8

Not only bead, to some extent seals and weights were also manufactured there. It seems that the workers manufactured three different types of objects at a time, which prove their versatility. The artisans were specialists in making of steatite beads. They used this steatite not only for the manufacture of beads but also for seals. This particular industry (bead-making and seal-making) was so much developed at Chanhu-Daro that they would sell it to the other Harappan sites and even to the Mesopotamian countries. Different Chanhu-Daro beads have been found from different Harappan sites. No typical furnace, crucible or any slag has been found from Chanhu-Daro but many potteries and some metal ingots have been found. It is quite possible that the high temperature work was carried on well outside the city and the semi-finished objects brought in for finishing.