Early History of Orissa

SR No.: 006922
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Amarchand Mittal
Publisher: Jain Cultural Research Society
Publication Year: 1957
Total Pages: 506
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 9 MB

Page 103

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AN EARLY HISTORY OF ORISSA
B. B. Lal,2 after having examined the find spots of various copper implements, concludes—“It will be seen that there exist no good paralles to these copper hoards in either Indus Valley Culture or any of the prehistoric cultures of Western Asia ......Profs. Piggott and Geldern have assumed that the well known swords from Fort Munro in the Punjab, the trunion celt from Shalozan in the Kurram valley, socketed axes from Shahi Tump and Chunhu, Daro, and the adzes-axe from Mohenjo-daro also belong to these (viz. the Gangetic Basin Hoards) and can be treated as such. In point of fact this is not true. None of the four types in the Gangetic Basin and conversely no harpoons, anthropomorphic figure? or antennae sword etc., occurs west of that basin......... Thus while the socketed axe, adze-axe, trunion celt and fort Munro sword etc., with their demostrable West Asiatic affinities are likely to have been associated with the upheaval and movement of people that followed the break
1. Ancient India, Vol, VII, 1991, p. 35 f. 2. An 'anthropomorphic figure' from Bisuli, U. P. (Fig. 2, No.5,
Ancient India, Vol. VII, 1931, p. 25) preserved in Bharat Kala Bhavan, Banaras, was examined by Dr. B.. the Archaeological Chemist. It was found to be containi 91% copper and 0.66% nickel. No other metal was presenu.
The report says :-"The small amount of nickel detached in the specimen represents only an impurity derived from the copper ore. The fact is significant is it shows that the ore, from which the metal was smelted, was of Indian origin. The Indian copper ores have generally arsenic or nickel or both as impurities, and these are considered the key-elements in placing the source of the raw material. The nearest copper mines and ancient copper workings exist in Rajputana and Singbhum, and it is probable that the specimens in question may have been derived from ores from such a source.'
The fact that this object is made of copper and not of bronze-and the same applies to most of the other objects as well-seems to play an important part in ascertaining the cultural affiliations of the copper boards.
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