Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c28.s3.1

v1.c28.s3.1

We would now discuss the use of metals and alloys in the ancient Indian works of art. Four varieties of metal were discovered in Mohenjo-Daro: (1) crude copper lumps, with considerable amount of residual sulphur, (2) refined copper, (3) 2-5 per cent arsenic alloy of copper, (4) bronze containing as much as 13 per cent tin. Analysis of 200 Harappan artefacts showed (D.P. Agrawal, 1982: 235-36) that only 23 per cent were alloyed with tin, 12 per cent with arsenic, and 8 per cent with lead. Evidently it was a copper-bronze culture. The Harappan smiths used higher percentages of tin in the bronze for making bangles (11.82 %), and pins (13.83 %) than in producing tools such as spear (2.27 %). Silver, gold and light yellow electrum constituted a separate series of art or ornament constituents.