Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c14.s3.t1.3

v1.c14.s3.t1.3

The kiln used by the lapidaries for heating beads is ovoid on plan; its longer axis being 5 ft and height 1 ft 4 inches. It is not known whether it had a vaulted roof or not. Thin burnt bricks are used for the walls which are mud-plastered along with the floor. The four interconnected flues in the floor of the upper chamber allowed fire to reach the earthen bowls containing pebbles and beads. A huge dump of dehydrated lime seen near the kiln proves conclusively that limestone was used for completely dehydrating steatite. Bannister and Canningball have said in the case of micro-steatite beads from Chanhu-Daro, that the beads must have been dehydrated and then heated to a temperature 1200°C. Lothal is the only Harappan site where evidence of such an elaborate arrangement for large-scale production of beads has been found. Obviously it must have been a very important centre for making beads.