Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c14.s6.1

v1.c14.s6.1

Terracotta objects throw valuable light on the occupations, artistic achievements and religious beliefs of the people. This is also true of Lothal which has yielded more than three thousand terracotta objects. The terracotta objects from Lothal can be divided into six broad categories, i.e., human and animal figures, personal ornaments, tools and weapons, household objects, toys, gaming pieces and miscellaneous objects. The objects included in the last category are sling ball, triangular terracotta cakes and other miscellaneous objects of indeterminate use. Earthenware, terracotta seals, sealings and beads are noteworthy among them. Lothal folk used buffish alluvial clay mixed with mica, and sand as degraissant for making terracotta which withstood high temperature. (Rao, 475-76)