Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c14.s7.1

v1.c14.s7.1

Although Lothal is situated in the coastal belt of the Kathiawar peninsula where thick deposits of alluvium and blackish clay form the natural soil, and stone is not to be seen on the surface for nearly 50 miles around Lothal until one reaches the Ranpur hills, still, a good number of stone objects have been unearthed from here. Stone of good quality had to be imported during the proto-historic times from long distance over land and sea depending on the quality of the material needed. Sandstone which is available in plenty near Dharangadhra appears to have been made use of for making querns, mullers, pounders, whetstones, hammerstones, ball, burnishers and mace-heads. Limestone and sandstone were used for anchors. Schist stone was occasionally used as touchstone and for making small conical objects which served as pendants, gamesmen or weights. Granite has been used very sparingly for crucibles, pounders and whetstones. Sandstone was used for making spheroid weights.