Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c19.s6.t4.1

v1.c19.s6.t4.1

Three hundred and thirty-eight iron objects including 37 indeterminate pieces were recovered from the various strata of Period IV. The identifiable objects comprise of 30 items including 12 slag pieces and 12 broken pieces of bars. While almost all the items found in Period III continue, 16 new items are noticed during this period. Agricultural tools appear for the first time during Period IV. Their use must have increased the agricultural output to provide surplus, an essential factor for urbanisation. The building activity also increased considerably due to the use of many new tools, including plumb-bob for fixing vertical alignment of the walls. The tools of blacksmiths and carpenters are found in large numbers, indicating the growing importance of their crafts. The blacksmiths’ furnaces were noticed more frequently during Period IV than in the habitational layers of Period III. Obviously, the wider use of iron in Period IV had a considerable effect on economic life of the town.