Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c19.s5.t3.2

v1.c19.s5.t3.2

The presence of iron objects in such profusion (vide Table 11.1) and the discovery of furnace, slags (Table 11.2) and certain specific tools used by blacksmiths suggest that not only were iron goods manufactured at the site, but that the smelting of iron ore was also carried out here. It has been suggested that the main source of iron for PGW people of Atrañjikhera was most probably the region extending from south of Agra, to Gwalior containing rocks in which iron content is 'high'. The extensive deposits of banded haematite-quartzite found in these rocks were considered important and have been worked out on large scale by the indigenous smelters. Chemical analysis of iron shales collected from Agra-Gwalior range shows that the material contains 21.7 per cent iron, 41.9 per cent SiO₂, 14 per cent Al₂O₃, 6.3 per cent CaO, 2.3 per cent MgO. 1.4 per cent Na₂O and 6.8 per cent K₂O. O.P. Agrawal claims that this shell might have been used for iron-making at Atrañjikhera in view of the fact that SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO and MgO are present in the above material as well as in the finished objects and slags. (Gaur, 1983, 487-500)