Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c17.s2.t1: Bar-Celt

v1.c17.s2.t1.1

A bar-celt consists of a nearly parallel-sided bar, the length of which measures several times its width. It has a rectangular section, flat bottom and convex upper side. The cutting edge, usually crescentic, is obtained by bevelling the upper side. Most of these features are simulations of the stone celts from the hilly tracts of southern Bihar, western West Bengal and northern Orissa. There is therefore, good reason to believe, according to Dr. Lal that the copper bar-celts were developed from their prototypes in stone in course of time, when metal began to replace stone. It has been suggested by Professor Piggott that the bar-celts may have developed from the narrow elongated celts discovered at Chanhu-Daro and Nal. But these latter specimens do not possess the characteristic features of bar-celt. Besides, in view of the more positive evidence regarding the evolution of the copper bar-celts from their stone prototypes as discussed above, the possibility of an Indus Valley origin of this type of implement may have to be given up. (Lal 1951: 35)