Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c21.s2.3

v1.c21.s2.3

White copper and its alloys, glass, faience, shell, carnelian and agate, mentioned in the Mahābhārata, were pre-Mauryan commodities, the rest of the gems mentioned in the epic must have come from south India or across the north-western border of India during the Mauryan period. The varieties of the weapons made of iron were evolved during the Historical NBPW Period. There was another spurt of gem industry during the Christian era 100 BC to AD 200. While etched beads and special glasses were evolved in India, coral came from Italy, and gem incrustations might have been introduced by the Indo-Scythians’ (?).