History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c10.14

c10.14

A third series of sites of settlements in South Baluchistan in the Kolwa region gives evidence of a distinctive culture, named as the Kulli Culture, characterised by their painted pottery style. Pottery, baked clay figurines and copper objects have been found in the cemeteries in the Kulli region. Influence of the Harappa style in the potteries of later periods can be detected. The painting on the pottery body is generally of a black colour with an occasional use of red. There is frequently a pale red or sometimes a whitish slip, on which the painted design is placed. Clay figurines representing cattle, particularly the humped bull, are painted. The figurines of women, however, are of a single colour, though their modelling is more elaborate and ornamental. Vessels carved out of soft stone also form a special feature of Kulli Culture, indicating contact with the Indus Valley Civilization. Copper and bronze objects form a surprisingly large part of the grave-goods deposited with the cremations. Cremation cemeteries have been unearthed at some sites in the Kulli region, particularly at Mehi. A copper mirror, 5 inches in diameter with a copper handle representing a stylised female figure, constitutes a most outstanding find in the Mehi cemetery. It reflects indeed a great credit to the inventive skill of these early Baluchistan metal-workers. The same cemetery was found to contain another copper mirror in the shape of a circular disc, 5 inches across and without a handle, besides two copper pins, one with a flat, disc-shaped head and the other with a head of small lapis lazuli bead. Fragments of simple copper bracelets and of small bowl (containing, as found on analysis, traces of nickel) were the other articles to be noted. A copper pin with a somewhat bent head was found also at Kulli, as well as a fragment of sheet gold. Beads of lapis lazuli and agate also occurred in numbers (*cf.* Fig. 3).