A History of Agriculture in India v1.c17.5

v1.c17.5

From end to end of the territory stretching from Mohenjo-daro to Harappa, from some 40 settlement-sites, come pottery of identical mass-produced types. Harappan Chalcolithic culture is further characterized by the concurrent use of copper or bronze flat axes and stone blades. The mass production of stone blades started in the Neolithic Period in the Fertile Crescent and it continued even after the discovery of copper on account of the cheapness of stone and its easy availability. Other characteristics of Chalcolithic culture are steatite and faience beads, along with those of carnelian, agate and copper, and peculiar terracotta figurines. Houses are built of baked bricks of standard dimensions. Stamp-seals are engraved with figures of domestic animals and a uniform script. A standard system of weights is recognizable. Whereas some sites are villages, others are small towns, and 350 miles [563 kilometres] apart stand two cities, each covering at least a square mile [2.6 square kilometres] of ground, twin capitals of an empire.