Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c25.s5.3

v1.c25.s5.3

The data presented in Table 17.6 shows widely fluctuating ratios of Pb : Zn and Pb : Cu. Shekar (1983: 181) has attributed this trend to ‘deficiencies in extractive metallurgy, in obtaining pure fractions of individual metals from a multimetal ore as of Ambamata, rather than due to any deliberate attempt at debasing’. We do not agree with Shekar for the simple reason that India had already well-established traditions for selective mining and preparation of reasonably pure metals of copper, lead and silver. It is difficult to imagine the ancient smelter making silver ‘naturally’ containing 18 per cent copper (Table 17.6, sample No. 3) and smelting copper naturally containing 11-46 per cent lead (Nos. 4 and 5). Thus, the fluctuating ratios in Table 17.6 reflect, in our opinion, deliberate attempts for alloying.