Copper in Ancient India c7.s1.15

c7.s1.15

In addition to these, quite a large number of copper implements has recently been discovered in different parts of Behar and Orissa and described in the the journal of the Behar and Orissa Research Society. Dr. A. Campbell describes 27 specimens of copper axe-heads in the Manbhum district of which he got possession of twentyfour. They were found by digging in the stretch of country between the hills running almost due east from Paresnath to Pokhuria in the north of the Dhanbad Subdivision and the Barakar river. A dozen of these magnificent specimens were dug up in a lot about a foot below the surface of the earth by coolies engaged in making the road going from the village of Kolher to the boundary of the Hazaribagh District. Regarding the method of construction of these axe-heads Dr. Campbell writes “the method of manufacturing these axe-heads seems to have been to run the metal into a mould, of the shape of but thicker and smaller than, the finished article. It was then beaten out to the required thickness. This appears to me to account for the variety of the shape of those that have been found. A little difference in the thickness of the cast in the mould or else the metal beaten irregularly would result in the slight differences in shapes which exist. I possess one of these rough castings.”¹