Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c21.s1.5

v1.c21.s1.5

Bicone truncated chalcedony beads, having a pentagonal section were first met in the fourth century BC. Taxila and later appeared in 100 BC Ahicchatra. The crystal beads found were mostly hexagonal. The natural shape of the crystals required less cutting and polishing. Beads or yellow quartz from Ahicchatra were dated 300-200 BC. Similar beads were found in the Mauryan strata at Tripuri, Taxila and later at Kauśāmbī. The use of this stone was prescribed against jaundice, as recorded by Pliny in his Natural History (37.139). In this connection, we may mention about the half-inch serpentine pendant from Ahicchatra, which, imitating Śuṅga art, depicted a pregnant woman in a squatting position with bent legs. This pendant was probably used as a charm against difficult labour. (Dikshit, 1952: 50)