Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c20.s3.t7.2

v1.c20.s3.t7.2

15 km west of Nagpur are the twin megalithic sites of Junapani (habitational) and Mahurjhari (burial). In Mahurjhari, burials were found along with skeletons, offence items like lances, swords, spears, a dagger with iron blade and copper hilt; utility items like a cauldron and nail-parers of iron; ornaments of gold, objects of copper, beads of carnelian, some etched, crystal, agate etc. (Deo, 1973) Junapani has yielded hoes, flat axes with cross-ring fasteners, horse bits and chisels with long blades. Typologically similar and nearby megalithic sites of Takalghat-Khapa have been C-14 dated to seventh-sixth century BC: 615 ± 105 BC and 555 ± 100 BC. Later, Mahurjhari became a very important centre for processing of semi-precious stones and bead-making. The megalithic site of Kaundinyapura (associated with Rukmini, Krishna’s wife) also yielded etched carnelian beads. The iron objects, claimed as ‘cast steel’ (?) in view of high carbon, and obtained by G.G. Pearse in 1869 from the stone circles at Wurre Gaon near Kamptee and Nagpur, also probably belong to the pre-Christian megalithic era. These objects are kept in the British Museum.