Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c28.s6.2

v1.c28.s6.2

Most vessels were made of earthenware and ceramics and objects made of terracotta. However similar shaped objects were also made of metals such as silver, copper, bronze, iron etc. Bronze vessels were found in both Bhir mound (with round bottom and sides) and Sirkap in Taxila. Silver bowls, dishes and goblets were found in only Sirkap. Metallic spouted vessels were found in ancient India only after the Sātavāhana period. Copper and bronze offering stands were made in the Harappan civilization and again later by the Kuṣāṇa artisans in Taxila. Dishes of cast copper and silver coming from Sirkap date from the first century AD. The copper specimens reported here show shallow dish with flat bottom, concave sides and raised boss or omphalos in the centre. A silver dish belonging to this type is round in shape and the raised boss in the centre is terminated into a knot and surrounded by six incised concentric circles; there is an inscription in Kharoṣṭhī on it.