Copper in Ancient India c9.s1: The Bronze Age

Copper in Ancient India c9.s1

Language: English

The Bronze Age

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In Europe and specially in Eastern Europe a bronze age intervened between the Stone age and the Iron age; but so far as India is concerned, available evidence is absolutely insufficient to establish an Indian bronze age. Mr. Vincent A. Smith in his article entitled “the copper age and bronze implements in India” and in the supplementary essay¹ already referred to has collected a list of the very small number of bronze implements hitherto discovered in India. Only six authentic Indian bronze implements are known, whilst the number of copper implements discovered in India is nearly 500 as has been stated before. These six specimens comprise one flat celt, one so-called sword, one spear-head and three harpoon heads. These are undoubtedly made of bronze and the results of analysis are given below—

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¹ Vincent A. Smith *Indian Antiquary*, 1905, p. 240, and 1907, p. 53.

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2. One bronze sword or rather spear head, length 28¾", purchased by Sir Walter Elliot from persons in India. Locality not known. 95.68 3.83 per cent

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3. One spear-head presented in 1837 to the British Museum, supposed to come from Etawah. Looks like bronze but has not been analysed.

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4. A fine harpoon-head presented by Sir Alexander Cunningham to the National Museum, Dublin, said to have been found somewhere in India. do

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5. A harpoon found by a Berwick man while fishing in the Tweed near Norham castle and evidently of Indian origin although it is difficult to explain how it found its way to England. Probably it was brought home in modern times by some sailor. 91.12 7.97 per cent

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6. Another harpoon-head closely resembling the specimen No 5 found along with the sword or spear head mentioned above (No. 2). 93.18 6.74 per cent.

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The percentage of tin in the sword is only 3.83 and might be due to accidental admixture but the celt from Jubbulpur contains 13.3 per cent of tin and is undoubtedly a true bronze, whilst in the case of the other two specimens analysis shows a fair percentage of tin. The percentage of tin in ancient European bronzes ranges from 5 to more than 18 per cent.¹ The number of bronze implements found in those parts of Europe in which a bronze age undoubtedly existed is very large, but it may reasonably be contended that one or two bronze weapons of doubtful origin are not sufficient to prove the existence of an Indian bronze age.

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¹ Evans, Bronze Implements, p. 419.

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In the supplementary paper referred to above Mr. Vincent A. Smith quotes Dr. Furer who states that "numbers of ancient metal arrow-points are found in the soil around Bithur (near Cownpore) said to be relics of the time of Ramchandra."² Presumably all these Bithur specimens are made of copper and not bronze, but no analysis of these specimens has been made. A similar collection of "metal arrow-heads" has been made in the great jhil or swamp in the village of Parior (Oudh), but they also seem to be made of copper and not bronze, though no analysis has been made of the specimens. It seems undoubted that the available specimens are not enough to establish an Indian bronze age. The reason why India missed a Bronze Age appears to be that as the use of iron was known from Vedic times the use of bronze as implements was not necessary. I agree in holding that the prevailing idea of the eastern origin of the bronze age must be dropped and as a matter of fact eastern countries like China did not also pass through a bronze age. It would interest readers to learn incidentally the extent of area in Europe in which the bronze age really prevailed. Canon Greenwell, the veteran archaeologist writes "Indeed it cannot be said that there was ever any real development of a bronze cultivation, except in Western Europe. Assyria and Egypt certainly did not possess one; nor can Greece, the Islands of Asia minor be said to have brought it to any high pitch, though there are splendid specimens such as the Mykenac blades. Still there is nothing like the fine swords, spear-heads &c. so abundant in the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Switzerland and Italy. Hungary developed it certainly, but further east and south it never reached to any height nor have many bronze weapons &c. been found in these countries. Spain too, is very poorly represented, which as it had much traffic with the Eastern Mediterranean, seems to point to the bronze culture not having come through that channel.”¹

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² Monum. antiquary, N.W.P. and Oudh, p. 165.

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¹ Quoted by Vincent A. Smith, Indian Antiquary, 1907. p. 54.