Copper in Ancient India c5.3

c5.3

India abounds in ancient specimens of copper though in this respect the specimens of iron in the shape of pillars and beams still existing in India are certainly more wonderful. Nevertheless a continuous story of the existence of a copper industry may be read from pre-historic times down to the 17th century in the unique find of about 400 pre-historic copper implements in the village of Gunjeria in the Central Provinces to begin with to the remarkable copper bolt in the Asoka-pillar discovered near the frontiers of Nepal, the colossal copper statue of Buddha discoverd in Sultanganj and another such statue 80 feet high witnessed by the Chinese traveller Hiuen-Tsiang near the Nalanda Convent, the brass convent 100 feet at the base constructed by King Silāditya, copper coins, plates, caskets and utensils from pre-Christian time onwards, and lastly the enormous brass guns and cannon of the Moghul period. These varied and numerous archaeological specimens of copper articles of all ages bear eloquent testimony to the existence of a flourishing copper industry in ancient India.