Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c23.2

v1.c23.2

The Harappans had extensive trade-links within and outside India. Like the Sumerians, they made many articles out of metals, semi-precious stones and other minerals. Apart from the production centres in the northern and western part of the sub-continent, several trade and raw material centres in the Central Asia, Afghanistan, Iran and the Sumerian outposts were linked with the Harappan capitals. Both land-routes, across Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, and the sea-routes along the Indian, Iranian and Sumerian coasts were used. There are evidences that certain raw materials were imported by land routes to the Indus Valley sites, processed and then exported via the sea-routes. This trend continued for several millennia up to the Roman era. First we would like to present a few examples of Pre-Harappan and Harappan trade in metals and minerals. (Asthana, 1982)