Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c15.s3.2

v1.c15.s3.2

The beads of Ahar display a few noteworthy features. The first and foremost is the abundant use of terracotta as the material for beads in all the phases of occupation. This preference for clay seems to be intentional when we take into consideration the fact that these incised terracotta beads are so far unique in India. Possibly on clay alone, the patterns familiar to the inhabitants could be easily copied. More or less exactly similar and in eight cases identical pattern are reported from Western Asia. Secondly, faience and steatite, which are the materials *par excellence* so far as proto-historic habitation are concerned, are represented meagerly at Ahar. Thirdly, the collection of beads in semi-precious stones does not show any unusual feature either of shape or technology, and lastly it appears that at least shell beads were made locally. The schist beads were also probably made on the site.