Iron in Ancient India c6.s6.14

c6.s6.14

(4) Some have gone so far as to suggest from the small holes on the sides of the pillar that it was used as a "dipdān" (lamp-post). This suggestion is negated by the fact that dipdans hitherto discovered are all made either of stone or bricks, but not of iron. Moreover the holes would have been equidistant if the pillar was really a lamp-post. Considering the unequal intervals between the holes, Cousens supposes that these pits were used for the purpose of inserting some instrument like crowbars while the pillar was being forged and welded.