Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c14.s9.3

v1.c14.s9.3

The fresh water shells and marine varieties from Lothal fall into three well-defined classes of Molusca, namely, the Gastropoda, the Lamelli-branchia (Pelecypoda), and the Scaphopoda, all of which were worked by the Lothal craftsman. All these varieties except chank are common in the Arabian sea. The chank Xancus (Turbinella; pyrum linn.) species is strictly confined to the Indian waters — Gulf of Mannar and Kathiawar coast from Dwaraka to Beyt — occurring nowhere else in Asia. Chank industry flourished in Lothal, Late- Harappan sites of Amra and Lakhabawal near Jamnagar and also in the pilgrimage sites of Beyt and Dwaraka.