Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c18.s3.6

v1.c18.s3.6

Agrawal et al. (1978) reported that Copper Hoard artefacts were not unalloyed as scholars earlier believed. 33 samples from Hami, Bahadurabad, Narsipur, Sadabad, Shahabad and nine other sites were characterised by substantial arsenic alloying. Assay figures showed up to 7.844 per cent, as in a copper celt from Hami. Lead was also used for alloying. In the Harappan artefacts (200 examined), tin was the major alloying element; white 70 per cent artefacts were unalloyed, 10 per cent samples contained 1-7 per cent tin, another 14 per cent assayed 8-12 per cent tin and the remaining 6 per cent assayed 12 per cent of tin. Of the 200 samples examined, only 12 per cent were alloyed with As and 8 per cent with lead. Thus there were less number of samples alloyed with As, and even less number alloyed with Pb. On the other hand, Chalcolithic Culture samples were alloyed more with Pb and Sn than As. Data presented in Table 10.1 show the clear contrast between the three traditions.