Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c14.s2.t5.1

v1.c14.s2.t5.1

The evidence of copper-smith’s workshop has been revealed from the Phase IV. There the mud brick structure consists of two rooms measuring 10 x 12 ft and 12 x 8 ft, internally, the overall measurement being 17 x 24 ft. A furnace rectangular on plan, measuring 2 ft 6 in x 2 ft is skirted by burnt bricks placed vertically on end. Other finds from the workshop include a copper chisel and two terracotta crucibles. A unique feature of the construction of the shop is that the cross-walls, providing entrance to the furnace-room, are not built in one straight line. Another feature of the workshop is the provision of a niche in the outer face of the western wall on the road side. (Rao, 95) Two types of furnaces used by copper-smiths are laid bare in Block A. One of them assignable to Phase III is more or less a circle on plan with a rectangular projection for supply of fuel. A thick bowl of coarse grey fabric with traces of copper and fragments of a copper chisel and a rod were found here. The second furnace laid bare in house No. 154, a muffle and a copper pin found near the structure go to prove that the structure was used as furnace by a copper-smith. In both the cases the crucibles were placed on burning coal in the enclosures as is done even today. (Rao, 83)