Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c17.s1.t5: Anthropomorphic Figures
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c17.s1.t5
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Anthropomorphic Figures
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These seem to be confined to the Gangetic basin alone, since their occurrence has not been reported from anywhere else in the world. The Bisauli anthropomorphic figure measured about 12-1/2 inch in length from ‘head to foot’ and 11 inch in width from arm to arm. It seems to have been cast and then hammered, the marks left in the later process being clearly visible all over the body. Both the arms are incurved and have sharp outer edges: while the inner sides of the legs are left blunt. D.P. Agrawal (1971: 200) believes that the anthropomorphic figures were used as missiles for killing birds and other preys. Lal thinks that any use that may be suggested for this figure-religious or utilitarian — cannot but be conjectural. But Allchins suggest that these bear some resemblances to the ‘anthropomorphic’ sacrificial axes of iron or steel used by the Santals and other tribal people of Chota Nagpur — their actual function was probably some kind of ritual step. The object according to the chemical analysis shows the presence of copper and nickel only. No other metal is present. The quantitative analysis of the Bisauli specimen gave the following results:
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| Copper | 98.77 per cent |
| Nickel | 0.66 per cent |
| | 99.43 per cent |
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The small amount of nickel detected in the specimen represents only an impurity derived from the copper ore. The fact is significant, as it shows that the ore from which the metal was smelted was of Indian origin. The Indian, copper-ores have generally arsenic or nickel or both as impurities, and these are considered as the key elements in placing the source of raw material. The nearest copper-mines and ancient copper workings exist in Rajputana and Singhbhum, and it is probable that the specimens in question may have derived from ores from such a source. Even Agarwal has suggested that the source of the copper is likely to have been from the Rakha mines of Bihar, rather than the Harappan source, which was most probably the Khetri region of Rajasthan. The fact that this object is made of copper and not bronze, and the same applies to most of other objects as well, seems to be decisive in ascertaining the cultural affiliations of these copper hoards. (Lal, 1951: 24, 35; Allchins, 1983: 256)
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So, from the above, it will be seen that there exists no good parallel to these copper hoards in either the Indus Valley cultures or any of the proto-historic cultures of Western Asia. If that is true, as it seems to be, how is it that professors Piggott and Heine-Geldern have been led to think otherwise? The reason is not far too seek. It lies in the mixing up of issues. The two writers have assumed that the well-known sword from Fort Munro in the Punjab, the trunion celt from Shalozan in the Kurram Valley, socketed axes from Shahi Tump and Chanhu-Daro and the adze axe from Mohenjo-Daro also belong to these ‘hoards’ and can be treated as such. As a matter of fact, this is not true. None of the four types just stated occurs in the Gangetic basin and conversely no harpoon, anthropomorphic figure or antennae sword etc., occurs west of that basin. Not a single site can be named where an implement from the former group has been found in association with an implement from the latter. If this is realised, things get straightened at once. (Lal, 1951: 35)
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Here it would not be out of place to recall that almost all the implements comprising the ‘hoards’ are of pure copper. The specimens from Bithur, Fatehgarh, Mainpuri, Gangeria, Bisauli etc. have amply testified to this. The socketed axe, adze axe, trunion celt, Fort Munro sword and their associated implements on the other hand are mostly of bronze. Again the socket is entirely absent from the Gangetic celts. From the technological point of view also, therefore, the two groups fall out from each other.
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Thus, while the socketed axe, adze axe, trunion celt and Fort Munro sword etc. with their demonstrable West Asiatic affinities are likely to have been associated with the upheaval and movement of people that followed the break-up of the Harappa Culture, the ‘copper hoards’ on the contrary seem to point to a culture which was mainly confined to the Gangetic basin with a possible southward extension across the Vindhya and Kaimur ranges. (Lal, 1951: 37)
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Lal has pertinently wondered who were then the authors of this ‘copper hoard culture’. As stated above a trial excavation very close to the find spot of the Bisauli hoard produced rolled fragments of ill-fired, ochre-washed ware which may have been associated with the implements. Another copper-hoard site Rajpur Parasu was excavated by Lal, but no copper implements were obtained. Only the lower levels produced the same kind of ill-fired, thick, ochre-washed, rolled pottery as was found at Bisauli. Thus, B.B. Lal wonders whether the copper implements and the pottery products were of the same culture. He thinks that if the answer is in the affirmative (which only further work at these sites can finally decide), it may perhaps be possible to identify the authors some day. (Lal, 1951: 37)
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Lal further adds that the excavation at Hastināpur has yielded an ill-fired, thick, ochre-washed pottery from the lower level. The fabric, wash and general look of the specimens from the three sites viz. Bisauli, Rajpur Parasu and Hastināpur suggest that they might belong to one and the same class. At Hastināpur the strata overlying this pottery contained Painted Grey Ware which appears to have been associated with the ‘Aryans’ or a group of immigrants when they occupied the upper basins of the Sutlej, Saraswati, Yamunā and Gaṅgā around 1000 BC.
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Thus, Lal thinks that if the copper hoards are to be associated with the ill-fired, ochre-washed, thick ware it would follow that they are the products of a people who inhabited the Gangetic basin, presumably before the arrival of the ‘Aryans’. Who exactly were these pre- and non-‘Aryans’ is very difficult to determine in the present state of our knowledge, but it may not be out of place to recall here two typological observations made previously.
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First the bar-celt, which constitutes an important type among the copper-hoards, seems to have developed from stone celts of a similar shape occurring in the hilly tracts of north-eastern Madhya Pradesh, Southern Bihar, Western West Bengal and Northern Orissa. Secondly, the harpoon, another outstanding type in the copper hoards has a resemblance to certain tools depicted in the cave-paintings of Mirzapur in southern Uttar Pradesh. If these similarities have any significance, it would appear that the authors of the copper hoards were once associated with the areas just stated. At present these tracts are known to be chiefly occupied by the Muṇḍas, Santhals and other tribes belonging to the proto-Australoid group of the Indian population. Can it then be said that the ancestors of these Proto-Australoid tribes were responsible for the copper hoards? From the Vedic literature itself Lal has shown that the Nishadas were having a dark complexion, short stature and flat nose. Since more or less the same physical features characterize the Proto-Australoid tribes, the question posed above would appear to gain support from the Vedic literature itself. (Lal, 1951: 38-39)