Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c16.s1.4

v1.c16.s1.4

Although due to the restricted excavation at Kayatha no complete house-plans have been recovered, but the yield of minor artefacts was quite rich; their tool outfit was chalcolithic in character for they used both copper and stone tools. The tools of copper were doubtless scarce, for the metal was not easily available in desired quantities. The people however had mastered the technology of copper as is evidenced by the find of two fine copper axes. These have a sharp cutting edge and a lenticular section: other edge has been hammered and then thickened obviously for making it convenient for hafting. But their most noteworthy feature is that these have been cast in mould in sharp contrast to the similar artefacts of the later chalcolithic cultures of Central India and the Deccan which were just hammered into the desired shape after heating the metal. The moulds for the Kayatha axes may have been of terracotta but the possibility of stone moulds cannot be ruled out. A fragmentary chisel is also reported from Kayatha.