Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c22.s1.3

v1.c22.s1.3

The Greeks emphasized on the increasing use of softer varieties of stone instead of the hard one. Replacing the hard basalt or quartzite saddle-querns, the softer sand-stone stool-querns became fashionable during the Maurya period. Up to the beginning of the second century BC, four kinds of sandstone were used in the Bhir Mound settlements: (1) the grey *tarakī* or *Kambiāl* sandstone, locally available and used for the temple pillars and pilasters, (2) spotted red and white sandstone from Mathurā, (3) greyish quartz sandstone and (4) buff-coloured fine-grained hard sandstone, usually with some black spots, from Chunar near Vārāṇasī. The second variety has been widely used for the Hellenistic and Mathurā style statues and sculptures under considerable Greek influence. The fourth variety was evidently brought from Chunar to make the Aśoka pillars and later thrown down, broken and re-used for making utensils.