Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c14.s10.6

v1.c14.s10.6

Like Chanhu-Daro, Lothal was also famous for bead-making industry. One bead-making factory where nearly eight hundred assorted stone beads were found, clearly indicates its volume of work. Different types of materials were used here for the manufacture of beads. Lothal, which has produced the largest number of etched carnelian beads, may reasonably claim to be the centre from where the technique of etching spread to other regions. Lothal has yielded beads in various stages of manufacture which go to show that the process of bead-making was very much practised here. The manufactured beads used to be exported to foreign countries and to the different Indus cities. It is possible that the production at Chanhu-Daro was not adequate to meet the demand of the ancient world and hence the artisans of Lothal had also started to manufacture it.