Copper in Ancient India c12.19

c12.19

Not much reliable information is available regarding the existence of copper mines in Southern India. But from the discovery of large quantities of bronze and brass statue of gods and goddesses of later centuries, it is likely that copper was extracted in Southern India also from ancient times. Heyne, geologist and traveller, mentions the existence of old copper mines in the districts of Callastry, Venkatycherrry and Nellore in the Madras Presidency.² In 1797 he discovered several ancient copper mines at Agricondalah. In 1800 he discovered a large number of copper mines in the Nellore district, the locality of which was zealously hidden from him. He saw one such mine near the Eastern Ghats in a hill about 400 ft. above the level of the village. "An open gallery cut into the rock demonstrated that it had been wrought. And as the stones, which lay in abundance near it, were all tinged or overlaid with mountain green, there could be no doubt that the ore extracted had been copper.” In this connection Heyne remarked “the general use of copper or brass utensils among the natives of Hindustan and the preference given to them before all other descriptions of vessels together with the tenacity with which they adhere in every point to the custom of their fore-fathers, seems to me a very strong proof that copper has been formerly obtained in India in considerable quantity. The constant wars in which the native princes have been engaged and the consequent depopulation of this part of the country (Southern India) are probably the true causes why these mines have been so long neglected.”