Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c17.s2.2

v1.c17.s2.2

Tool kits discovered from these sites mainly consist of shouldered celts, bar-celts, double-edged axes, rings, discs and a peculiar object, shaped somewhat like a ‘hansuli’ or handle of a ‘Karai’. These tool types are generally found in Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa and Eastern Madhya Pradesh and have a basic difference from those found in the Gaṅgā-Yamunā Doab. None of the axes found in West Bengal has exact parallels in the copper hoard assemblage in U.P. The thin-edged double-edged axes of Parihati are not cast object but were hammered into shape from copper sheets. On the other hand no antennae-hilted sword, spearhead, harpoon of anthropomorphic figures appears in the collection of copper hoard implements so far discovered from West Bengal. Double-edged axes from Parihati are typologically different from the usual shouldered axe variety and may be compared with axe types of Bhangrapir in Mayurbhanj, Orissa. The forging technique too seems to be the same. Proximity of the two places may be noted in this connection. The similarity between Banasuria stone celts and Bhaktabandh copper bar-celt, strengthens the theory that stone celts are pre-types of copper bar-celt of the plateau zone. (Bose, 1987: 42)