Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c20.s3.t6.4

v1.c20.s3.t6.4

Whereas the Vidarbha Megalith culture shows less use of tin in bronze items, the peninsular counterparts show more lavish use of the metal: Brahmagiri sample 16 per cent tin in bronze, Raigir, Andhra Pradesh sample 21 per cent, Nilgiri area bronze 30 per cent etc. At Mahurjhari and Takalghat 15-30 per cent of the metallic items in the burials were made of copper. The number of copper bronze artefacts used by the Megalithic people is much higher than that associated with the full-fledged chalcolithic Jorwe culture in Western Maharashtra. The Megalith traditions in gold are equally impressive. Takalghat and Mahurjhari show a high percentage of silver (51.2%) in gold items. The gold diadems of Adichanallur are the most classic specimens of skilled technology. Paiyampalli provides the evidence of a goldsmith’s stone mould. The Megalithic people of Maski must have obtained gold from the nearby Hutti mine.