Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c22.s6.1

v1.c22.s6.1

Hardly any copper or bronze objects have been unearthed at Taxila of a date earlier than the fourth century BC, and very few until after the establishment of the Indo-Pārthian empire in the first century AD. Pliny stated (N.H., XXXIV.17) that India possessed neither bronze nor lead, and the *Periplus* recorded (49.56) that copper, tin and lead were imported to the Indian ports of Barygaza (Broach), Muziris and Nelcynda (near Cochin) etc. On the other hand, the widespread use of copper and its alloys in ancient India has been well-established, as recorded in our earlier chapters.