Copper in Ancient India c7.1

c7.1

India evidently had no bronze age, as bronze implements are scarcely to be found. So far as Southern India is concerned it is an admitted fact that the Neolithic period, during which time stone implements and weapons were used, passed directly into the iron age, as no copper or bronze weapons have been found in Southern India. Old cromlechs in various parts of Southern India have been found to contain iron weapons.¹ The southern bronzes of pre-historic times, as will be described later on, were objects used for ornamental purposes and do not include weapons. In Northern India, however, including the Central Provinces, copper tools and weapons have been discovered in several places besides two in Beluchistan which may be regarded archaeologically as a part of India. Mr. Vincent A. Smith in an excellent paper describes these interesting finds and concludes that "in the greater part of Northern India a copper age intervened between the Neolithic period and iron age."¹ We would examine his theory later on and in the meantime a short description of these implements will prove intersting.