DOCSLIB.ORG

Metal Technologies of the Indus Valley Tradition in Pakistan and Western India

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Metal Technologies of the Indus Valley Tradition in Pakistan and Western India 5 Metal Technologies of the Indus Valley Tradition in Pakistan and Western India Jonathan M. Kenoyer and Heather M.-L. Miller ABSTRACT In this paper we summarize the available literature and recent discoveries on the production and use ofmetals by peoples ofthe Indus Valley, Tradition ofPakistan and western India. Our primary focus is on the Harappan Phase (2600-1900 B.C.), and includes a review ofcollections and technical arialyses ofmetal artifacts, along with tables ofthe published analyses from the sites of Mohenjo-daro, Harappa, Lothal, and Rangpur. The potential ore sources for metals are discussed, with particular attention given to copper, arsenical copper, and tin bronzes but also including lead, gold, silver, and iron. We present an overview of evidence for Harappan Phase metal processing techniques, from smelting to finishing, and examine the use of metal in the context of an urban society that still uses stone tools. In conclusion we outline some future directions for archaeological and archaeometallurgical research in the subcontinent. [Final ms. received 10/96.] INTRODUCTION The Indus Valley Tradition ofPakistan and western vided access by sea to the resource areas of the Arabi­ India has been the focus ofconsiderable research over an Peninsula (Besenval 1992). the past two decades and scholars have begun to fill in We have chosen to use the chronology defined by many of the gaps in our understanding of regional ge­ Shaffer (1992), which is presented in Table 5.1 along ography, settlement patterns, subsistence, specific with its correlations to other more widely used but less technological developments and the chronology of precisely defined chronologies. As defined by Shaffer these changes (see Kenoyer 1991; Mughal 1990; Pos­ sehl 1990 for summaries). This paper provides an overview of the non-ferrous metal technologies in the TABLE 5.1 northwestern regions of the subcontinent, and of the GENERAL DATES AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL PERIODS role of these technologies during the Harappan Phase of the Indus Valley Tradition (2600-1900 B.C.). As the Early Food ProducingEra ca. 6500-5000 B.C. first such overview since Agrawal's seminal work in oZ Aceramic Neolithic 1971, we will focus on the presentation of often inac­ ~ Regionalization Era ca. 5000-2600 B.C. cessible data, summarizing the information available ~ ~ Early Harappan on metal sources, processing, and use. Cl Early Chalcolithic The Indus Valley Tradition was centered in the < Ceramic Neolithic ~ greater Indus plain, which was formerly watered by ~ 2600-1900 B.C. two major river systems, the Indus and the Ghaggar­ Integration Era (J) Mature Harappan Hakra (now dry) (Fig. 5.1). Adjacent regions which ~ Chalcolithic/Bronze Age were culturally integrated at various periods with this Cl Z B.C. vast double river plain include the highlands and ~ Localization Era 1900-1300 plateaus of Baluchistan to the west, and the moun­ Late Harappan tainous regions of northern Pakistan, Mghanistan, Iron Age and India to the northwest and north. The Thar Painted Gray Ware +1200-800 B.C. Desert and the Aravalli Hills formed the eastern pe­ Northern Black riphery. The coastal regions from Makran to Kutch Polished Ware (?700) 500 to 300 B.C. and Gujarat formed the southern boundary and pro­ I-' o 50 60 70 80 00 38 Figure 1. /14 36 Major Geographical Features of the A~~J Northwestern Subcontinent and Adjacent :(~: 36 Regions, including Metal Source Areas .........•... 34 34 KEY N Approximate Location 32 I of Major Metal Ores .... ... Tin -O­ + Cop'per j • Gold I RAN ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ +~} .... ~~\ t::l E:: ~ tr:I ~ 22 MUSCAT AND .... .". ·· .... ·.. ···20 :.' ~'" .. ' ,/'''-. o MAN 20 .'r...L~J.!!Lu. 54 56 74 76 18 Figure 5.1 Major geographicalfeatures ofthe northwestern subcontinent and adjacent regions, including metal source areas (composed byJ M. Kenoyer from various sources). METAL TECHNOLOGIES OF THE INDUS VALLEYTRADITION IN PAKISTAN AND WESTERN INDIA 109 TABLE 5.2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRADITIONS OF NORTHWESTERN SOUTH ASIA (AFfER SHAFFER 1992) INDUS VALLEY TRADITION BALUCHISTAN TRADITION HELMAND TRADITION Early Food ProducingEra Early Food Producing Era Early Food ProducingEra Mehrgarh Phase Mehrgarh Phase Ghar-i-mar Phase* Regionalization Era Regionalization Era Regionalization Era Balakot Phase Kachi Phase Mundigak Phase Amri Phase Kili Gul Muhammad Phase Helmand Phase Hakra Phase Sheri Khan Tarakai Phase* Kot Diji Phase Kechi Beg Phase Damb Sadaat Phase Nal Phase Integration Era Integration Era Integration Era Harappan Phase Kulli Phase Shahr-i Sokhta Phase Periano Phase Localization Era Localization Era Localization Era Punjab Phase Bampur Phase Seistan Phase Jhukar Phase Pirak Phase Rangpur Phase *The Ghar-i-Mar (Dupree 1972) and Sheri Khan Tarakai Phases (Khan et al. 1989) were not identified by Shaffer because the excavations are only recently published or not fully analyzed. (1992), the Indus Valley Tradition includes all human studies suggest that the Indus state was composed of adaptations in this greater Indus region from around several classes ofelites who maintained different levels 6500 B.C. until 1500 B.C. and later. This Tradition can of control over the vast regions of the Indus and be subdivided into four Eras and several Phases (Ta­ . Ghaggar-Hakra Valley. The rulers or dominant mem­ bles 5.1 and 5.2). The Early Food Producing Era (ca. bers in the various cities would have included mer­ 6500-5000 B.C.), as defined at the site of Mehrgarh, chants, ritual specialists, and individuals who con­ sees the beginning of domesticated plants and ani­ trolled resources such as land, livestock, and raw mals, as well as the first find ofcopper in the form ofa materials. Although these groups may have had dif­ bead (Jarrige 1983). The Regionalization Era (ca. ferent means of control, they shared a common ide­ 5000-2600 B.C.) follows, with the development of dis­ ology and economic system as represented by seals, tinct agricultural and pastoral-based cultures associat­ ornaments, ceramics, and other artifacts. This ideolo­ ed with various specialized crafts, including the melt­ gy would have been shared by occupational specialists ing and working of copper. During the Integration and service communities, who appear to have been or­ Era, which is represented by the Harappan Phase ganized in loosely stratified groups (Kenoyer 1991). (2600-1900 B.C.), we see the cultural, economic, and Political and economic integration of the cities may political integration of the vast region defined above. have been achieved through the trade and exchange This paper focuses on the state of metal processing of important socio-ritual status items, many of which during the Harappan Phase. would have been produced by specialized artisans The Harappan Phase of the Integration Era rep­ using complex pyrotechnologies to manufacture met­ resents the first urban civilization in southern Asia al objects, agate beads, steatite seals, stoneware ban­ and the earliest state-level society in the region (Ja­ gles, elaborately painted and specialized ceramics, cobson 1986; Kenoyer 1991; Meadow 1991). Recent and faience objects· (Kenoyer 1992a). PROBLEMS IN DEFINING THE ORIGINS AND DIFFUSION OF METAL TECHNOLOGIES The extensive overlapping exchange networks that sive model that copper-working technology was devel­ connected the greater Indus region to the metal re­ oped somewhere in West Asia and diffused to adjacent source areas ofWest Asia, eastern Iran, and Rajasthan regions such as the greater Indus region (see this vol­ make it difficult to determine the role of diffusion in ume and Agrawal 1971) is based on assumptions re­ the origins and dispersal ofvarious metal technologies, garding human cultural interaction and the control of especially copper metallurgy. The simplistic yet perva­ knowledge that are not supported by the archaeologi­ ...... 80 ...... I 0 31 Figure 2. .~" + 4­ DJeltun <>.,)... Major Sites and Anau~ ~J.-.,\ . Geoksyur Namazga-depe @ ~ Basin _.. Interaction Networks 36 Indus, Baluchistan and Altln-depe .•••<.J ~ ,[~~ .. ~.: ..~.~ .. ~~..)! C" -\­ Ghar-I-mar ~,-- -- Darra-I-Kur c.·· .. Helmand Traditions, Ghar-I-asp "', '-­ . 0:,.' , Regionalization Era. \ , ':::': \ {~ \ ~~~ I I ,M ••... N I ":::.. I -o­ 32 f ~ ~.... .... ~ ~ it' ~ o s:: ~ it' ...... \\\' 24 .. .~~ ( 22 '­ ,._­ :",,:, . Key: Reglonallzatlon Era Site•• Other Important Site. @ 100 Major Trade' Exchange Routes .-•••••• 11 Figure 5.2 Major sites and interaction networks ofthe Indus Valley, Baluchistan, and Helmand Traditions, Regionalization Era (drawn by J M. Kenoyer). METAL TECHNOLOGIES OF THE INDUS VALLEYTRADITION IN PAKISTAN AND WESTERN INDIA 111 cal data currently available for study (Kenoyer 1989). gion (Fig. 5.2). Sites such as Nausharo Uarrige 1990), Throughout West and South Asia, beginning in the Balakot (Dales 1979), Ghazi Shah (Flam 1993), Palaeolithic and continuing through the Neolithic, we Rehman Dheri (Durrani 1988), and Kalibangan find evidence for a familiarity with fire and its effect on (Agrawala 1984a; Lal and Thapar 1967) all show evi­ various materials. In the Upper Palaeolithic, iron ores dence for the use of copper in the period prior to were routinely roasted to make pigments (Schmandt­ the Harappan Phase, along with changes in other Besserat 1980) and chert was heated to make it more technologies. flakable. During the Neolithic and early Chalcolithic, Throughout southern and northern Baluchistan, pyrotechnologies included the firing ofdifferent types Mghanistan, and Rajasthan, the combined resources ofclays
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Textiles of the Han Dynasty & Their Relationship with Society
    The Textiles of the Han Dynasty & Their Relationship with Society Heather Langford Theses submitted for the degree of Master of Arts Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Centre of Asian Studies University of Adelaide May 2009 ii Dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the research requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Centre of Asian Studies School of Humanities and Social Sciences Adelaide University 2009 iii Table of Contents 1. Introduction.........................................................................................1 1.1. Literature Review..............................................................................13 1.2. Chapter summary ..............................................................................17 1.3. Conclusion ........................................................................................19 2. Background .......................................................................................20 2.1. Pre Han History.................................................................................20 2.2. Qin Dynasty ......................................................................................24 2.3. The Han Dynasty...............................................................................25 2.3.1. Trade with the West............................................................................. 30 2.4. Conclusion ........................................................................................32 3. Textiles and Technology....................................................................33
    [Show full text]
  • The-Story-Of-Ancient-Indian-People
    The Story Of The Ancient Indus People Mohenjo-daro - Harappa Yussouf Shaheen Culture and Tourism Department, Government of Sindh, Karachi All Rights Reserved Book’S name: The Story of the Ancient Indus People Mohenjo Daro-Harappa Writer: Yussouf Shaheen TitleL Danish Khan Layout: Imtiaz Ali Ansari Publisher: Culture and Tourism Department, Government of Sindh, Karachi Printer: New Indus Printing Press sukkur Price: Rs.700/- Can be had from Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities Department Book shop opposite MPA Hostel Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidaytullah Road Karachi-74400 Phone 021-99206073 Yussouf Shaheen The Story Of The Ancient Indus People Mohenjo-daro - Harappa Books authored by Yussouf Shaheen: Rise and Fall of Sanskrit Fall of Native Languages of the Americas Slave Nations Under British Monarchs Artificial Borders of the World Rise and Fall of gods – In Historical Perspective William the Bastard and his descendants World Confederation of the Peoples The World of Conquerors Truth Untold Seven other books in Sindhi and Urdu In the memory of my friend Abdul Karim Baloch A TV icon fully reflecting the greatness and wisdom of Mohenjo-daro and blessed with the enduring perception of a Weapon-Free Society created in the Indus Valley Civilization. © Yussouf Shaheen 2018 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical photocopying recording or otherwise , without the prior permission of the publisher. This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
    [Show full text]
  • Parsons Site Ground Stone Artifacts
    84 _______________________________ ONTARIOARCHAEOLOGY _____________________ No. 65/66, 1998 PARSONS SITE GROUND STONE ARTIFACTS Martin S. Cooper INTRODUCTION Two poll end fragments were recovered, both exhibiting battering at the distal end. One of the poll fragments, which is longitudinally A total of 30 ground stone artifacts was split, is polished on its exterior surface. The recovered, including the bit portions of nine other poll portion is trianguloid in cross section celts, eight additional celt fragments, one and has remnant polishing on all three sur- charmstone or pendant preform, a fragment of faces. The remaining probable celt fragments a stone pipe bowl, one whetstone, a portion of include four pieces that have at least one a large metate, four possible abraders, five polished surface and a spall flake that was hammerstones, and one anvilstone. removed from the bit end of a tool, probably due to impact. DESCRIPTION Charm/Possible Pendant Preform Celts An artifact manufactured from fossiliferous The celt fragments consist of nine bit por- red shale was recovered from a post in the tions (Table 43),'two poll (butt) ends, and five east wall of House 8. This possible charmstone generalized fragments. All of these fragmentary or pendant preform is a flat, ovoid pebble, tools are made from hornblende/chlorite measuring 33 mm in length, 21 mm in width schist. The size of these tools is quite variable and 5 mm in thickness. While the lateral edges ranging from 8 g for the smallest to 351 g for of the pebble have been carefully rounded, the largest. On all nine of the bit portions, and both flat surfaces are highly polished, it is crushing and flaking at the bit end together neither notched nor drilled for suspension.
    [Show full text]
  • Bibliography
    Bibliography Many books were read and researched in the compilation of Binford, L. R, 1983, Working at Archaeology. Academic Press, The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Archaeology: New York. Binford, L. R, and Binford, S. R (eds.), 1968, New Perspectives in American Museum of Natural History, 1993, The First Humans. Archaeology. Aldine, Chicago. HarperSanFrancisco, San Francisco. Braidwood, R 1.,1960, Archaeologists and What They Do. Franklin American Museum of Natural History, 1993, People of the Stone Watts, New York. Age. HarperSanFrancisco, San Francisco. Branigan, Keith (ed.), 1982, The Atlas ofArchaeology. St. Martin's, American Museum of Natural History, 1994, New World and Pacific New York. Civilizations. HarperSanFrancisco, San Francisco. Bray, w., and Tump, D., 1972, Penguin Dictionary ofArchaeology. American Museum of Natural History, 1994, Old World Civiliza­ Penguin, New York. tions. HarperSanFrancisco, San Francisco. Brennan, L., 1973, Beginner's Guide to Archaeology. Stackpole Ashmore, w., and Sharer, R. J., 1988, Discovering Our Past: A Brief Books, Harrisburg, PA. Introduction to Archaeology. Mayfield, Mountain View, CA. Broderick, M., and Morton, A. A., 1924, A Concise Dictionary of Atkinson, R J. C., 1985, Field Archaeology, 2d ed. Hyperion, New Egyptian Archaeology. Ares Publishers, Chicago. York. Brothwell, D., 1963, Digging Up Bones: The Excavation, Treatment Bacon, E. (ed.), 1976, The Great Archaeologists. Bobbs-Merrill, and Study ofHuman Skeletal Remains. British Museum, London. New York. Brothwell, D., and Higgs, E. (eds.), 1969, Science in Archaeology, Bahn, P., 1993, Collins Dictionary of Archaeology. ABC-CLIO, 2d ed. Thames and Hudson, London. Santa Barbara, CA. Budge, E. A. Wallis, 1929, The Rosetta Stone. Dover, New York. Bahn, P.
    [Show full text]
  • (Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited, Haryana) Evening Session
    Adv. No. 1/2019 Cat. No. 01, Junior Engineer (Electrical) (Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited, Haryana) Evening Session Q1. निम्ि शब्द का पर्ाार्वाची शब्द बताइर्ᴂ | िेत्रजल A. दाख B. विलोचन C. आँसू D. अंशू Q2. निम्ि शब्द का ववपरीत (ववलोम) अर्ा बताइर्ᴂ | भाव A. प्रभाि B. अभाि C. स्िभाि D. अहमभाि Q3. िीचे ललखᴂ गर्े शब्द का एकवचि बिार्ᴂ| आररर्ⴂ A. आरी B. अरर C. आरर D. आररर Q4. िीचे ललखᴂ गर्े शब्द का बहुवचि बिार्ᴂ। पत्र्र A. पत्थरौ B. पतथरⴂ C. पत्थरⴂ D. पतथ्रⴂ Q5. िीचे ददर्े गर्े मुहावरे का उचचत अर्ा बतार्ᴂ | दीि दनु िर्ा से जािा A. कही का न रहना B. मर जाना C. घर से भाग जाना D. दखु ी होना Q6. __________ is the synonym of "INSANE." A. Sensible B. Insecure C. Foolish D. Meaningless May 1, 2019 Page 1 of 24 Adv. No. 1/2019 Cat. No. 01, Junior Engineer (Electrical) (Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited, Haryana) Evening Session Q7. __________ is the antonym of "UNIQUE." A. Common B. Only one of a kind C. Dull D. Unusual Q8. Identify the meaning of the idiom in the sentence. "He ran off the stage at the drop of a hat." A. Instantly B. Happily C. Slowly D. Stylishly Q9. Sentence given below may contain one or more mistakes. Identify the correct sentence. "He always reach late for school." A. He always reaches late to school. B. He always do reach late for school.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Arthur M. Sackler Colloquium of the National Academy Of
    1 Arthur M. Sackler Colloquium of the National Academy of Sciences Early Cities: New Perspectives on Pre-Industrial Urbanism Final Revisions: Oct. 1, 2005 Indus Urbanism: New Perspectives on its Origin and Character Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin, Madison During the past two decades a variety of archaeological research projects focused on the Indus civilization have made it possible to refine earlier models regarding the origin and character of this distinctive urban society. Excavations at the major city of Harappa have revealed a long developmental sequence from its origins to its eventual decline and subsequent transformation. Recent excavations at the large urban centers of Dholavira and Rakhigarhi, along with reexamination of the largest city of Mohenjo-daro have shown that the development of urbanism was not uniform throughout the greater Indus region (Kenoyer 1998). Detailed studies within each city have revealed many shared characteristics as well as some unique features relating to the dynamic process of city growth and decline. In addition to the excavations of larger urban centers, regional surveys and extensive excavations at smaller settlements have provided a new perspective on the nature of interaction between large and small urban centers and even rural settlements. The increase in radiocarbon dates from well-documented contexts in stratigraphic excavations has helped to refine the chronology of settlements in both core areas and rural areas (Meadow and Kenoyer 2005b; Possehl 2002a; Possehl 2002c). On the basis of a more refined chronology and comparisons of the material culture, it appears that some rural settlements may have been directly linked to the major cities, while others appear to have had relatively little direct contact during some time periods (Meadow and Kenoyer 2005b).
    [Show full text]
  • Bharati Volume 4
    SARASVATI Bharati Volume 4 Gold bead; Early Dynastic necklace from the Royal Cemetery; now in the Leeds collection y #/me raed?sI %/-e A/hm! #N/m! Atu?vm! , iv/Èaim?Sy r]it/ e/dm! -ar?t jn?m! . (Vis'va_mitra Ga_thina) RV 3.053.12 I have made Indra glorified by these two, heaven and earth, and this prayer of Vis'va_mitra protects the race of Bharata. [Made Indra glorified: indram atus.t.avam-- the verb is the third preterite of the casual, I have caused to be praised; it may mean: I praise Indra, abiding between heaven and earth, i.e. in va_kdevi Sarasvati the firmament]. Dr. S. Kalyanaraman Babasaheb (Umakanta Keshav) Apte Smarak Samiti Bangalore 2003 PDF Created with deskPDF PDF Writer - Trial :: http://www.docudesk.com SARASVATI: Bharati by S. Kalyanaraman Copyright Dr. S. Kalyanaraman Publisher: Baba Saheb (Umakanta Keshav) Apte Smarak Samiti, Bangalore Price: (India) Rs. 500 ; (Other countries) US $50 . Copies can be obtained from: S. Kalyanaraman, 3 Temple Avenue, Srinagar Colony, Chennai, Tamilnadu 600015, India email: [email protected] Tel. + 91 44 22350557; Fax 24996380 Baba Saheb (Umakanta Keshav) Apte Smarak Samiti, Yadava Smriti, 55 First Main Road, Seshadripuram, Bangalore 560020, India Tel. + 91 80 6655238 Bharatiya Itihasa Sankalana Samiti, Annapurna, 528 C Saniwar Peth, Pune 411030 Tel. +91 020 4490939 Library of Congress cataloguing in publication data Kalyanaraman, Srinivasan. Sarasvati/ S. Kalyanaraman Includes bibliographical references and index 1.River Sarasvati. 2. Indian Civilization. 3. R.gveda Printed in India at K. Joshi and Co., 1745/2 Sadashivpeth, Near Bikardas Maruti Temple, Pune 411030, Bharat ISBN 81-901126-4-0 FIRST PUBLISHED: 2003 2 PDF Created with deskPDF PDF Writer - Trial :: http://www.docudesk.com About the Author Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • "Ancient Mirror": an Interpretation of Gujing Ji in the Context of Medieval Chinese Cultural History Ju E Chen
    East Asian History NUMBER 27 . JUNE 2004 Institute of Advanced Studies Australian National University Editor Geremie R. Barme Associate Editor Helen Lo Business Manager Marion Weeks Editorial Advisors B0rge Bakken John Clark Lo uise Edwards Mark Elvin (Convenor) John Fitzgerald Colin Jeffcott Li Tana Kam Lo uie Le wis Mayo Gavan McCormack David Marr Tessa Morris-Suzuki Benjamin Penny Kenneth Wells Design and Production Design ONE Solutions, Victoria Street, Hall ACT 2618 Printed by Goanna Print, Fyshwick, ACT This is the twenty-seventh issue of Ea st Asian History, printed August 2005, in the series previously entitled Papers on Far Ea sternHist ory. This externally refereed journal is published twice a year. Contributions to The Editor, Ea st Asian Hist ory Division of Pacific and Asian History Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200, Australia Phone +61 2 6125 314 0 Fax +61 26125 5525 Email [email protected] Subscription Enquiries to Marion Weeks, East Asian History, at the above address, or to [email protected]. au Annual Subscription Australia A$50 (including GST) Overseas US$45 (GST free) (for two issues) ISSN 1036-6008 iii CONTENTS 1 Friendship in Ancient China Aat Vervoom 33 The Mystery of an "Ancient Mirror": An Interpretation of Gujing ji in the Context of Medieval Chinese Cultural History Ju e Chen 51 The Missing First Page of the Preclassical Mongolian Version of the Hs iao-ching: A Tentative Reconstruction Igor de Rachewiltz 57 Historian and Courtesan: Chen Yinke !l*Ji[Nj. and the Writing of Liu Rushi Biezhuan t9P�Qjll:J,jiJf� We n-hsin Yeh 71 Demons, Gangsters, and Secret Societies in Early Modern China Robert].
    [Show full text]
  • ICONS and SIGNS from the ANCIENT HARAPPA Amelia Sparavigna ∗ Dipartimento Di Fisica, Politecnico Di Torino C.So Duca Degli Abruzzi 24, Torino, Italy
    ICONS AND SIGNS FROM THE ANCIENT HARAPPA Amelia Sparavigna ∗ Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Torino C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino, Italy Abstract Written words probably developed independently at least in three places: Egypt, Mesopotamia and Harappa. In these densely populated areas, signs, icons and symbols were eventually used to create a writing system. It is interesting to see how sometimes remote populations are using the same icons and symbols. Here, we discuss examples and some results obtained by researchers investigating the signs of Harappan civilization. 1. Introduction The debate about where and when the written words were originated is still open. Probably, writing systems developed independently in at least three places, Egypt, Mesopotamia and Harappa. In places where an agricultural civilization flourished, the passage from the use of symbols to a true writing system was early accomplished. It means that, at certain period in some densely populated area, signs and symbols were eventually used to create a writing system, the more complex society requiring an increase in recording and communication media. Signs, symbols and icons were always used by human beings, when they started carving wood or cutting stones and painting caves. We find signs on drums, textiles and pottery, and on the body itself, with tattooing. To figure what symbols used the human population when it was mainly composed by small groups of hunter-gatherers, we could analyse the signs of Native Americans. Our intuition is able to understand many of these old signs, because they immediately represent the shapes of objects and animals. It is then quite natural that signs and icons, born among people in a certain region, turn out to be used by other remote populations.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix: 3 a List of Museums in Gujarat
    Appendix: 3 A List of Museums in Gujarat Sr. Year of Name of Museum Governing Bodies No. Establishment 1. Kutch Museum, Bhuj 1877 Govt, of Gujarat 2. Barton Museum, Bhavnagar 1882 Govt, of Gujarat 3. Watson Museum, Rajkot 1888 Govt, of Gujarat 4. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Museum, 1890 Muni. Corpo., Surat Surat 5. Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery, 1894 Govt of Gujarat Vadodara 6. Junagadh Museum, Junagadh 1901 Govt, of Gujarat 7. Lady Wilson Museum, Dharampur 1928 Govt, of Gujarat (Dist. Valsad) 8. Health Museum, Vadodara 1937 Municipal Corporation 9. Archaeological Museum, Jamnagar 1946 10. B. J. Medical College Museum, 1946 Ahmedabad 11. Calico Museum of Textile, 1948 Trust Ahmedabad 12. University Museum, 1949 University Vallabh Vidhyanagar 13. Gandhi Memorian Residential 1950 Trust Museum (Kirti Mandir), Porbandar 14. Prabhas Patan Museum, Prabhas 1951 Govt, of Gujarat Patan 303 15. Shri Girdharbhai Children Museum, 1955 Trust Museum Amreli 16. Museum Department of 1956 University Archaeology, M.S. University of Baroda 17. City Museum, Ahmedabad 1957 Municipal Corporation 18. Dhirajben Bal Sangrahalay, 1959 Trust Kapadvanj 19. N.C. Mehta Gallery, Ahmedabad 1960 Trust 20. Gandhi Smirti Museum, Bhavnagar 1960 Trust 21. B. J. Institute Museum, Ahmedabad 1993 Trust 22. Shri Rajnikant Parekh Art and KB. 1960 Trust Parekh Commerce College, Khambhat 23. Maharaja Fatesing Museum, 1961 Trust Vadodara 24. Tribal Museum, Gujarat Vidhyapith, 1963 University Ahmedabad 25. Gandhi Memorial Museum, 1963 Trust Ahmedabad 26. Shri Ambalal Ranchchoddas Sura 1965 Trust Museum, Modasa 27. Karamchand Gandhi Memorial, 1969 Trust Rajkot 28. Lothal Museum, Lothal 1970 Govt, of India 29. Saputara Museum, Saputara 1970 Govt, of Gujarat 30.
    [Show full text]
  • Ulug-Depe and the Transition Period from Bronze Age to Iron Age in Central Asia
    Ulug-depe and the transition period from Bronze Age to Iron Age in Central Asia. A tribute to V.I. Sarianidi Johanna Lhuillier To cite this version: Johanna Lhuillier. Ulug-depe and the transition period from Bronze Age to Iron Age in Central Asia. A tribute to V.I. Sarianidi . Dubova, N.A., Antonova, E.V., Kozhin, P.M., Kosarev, M.F., Muradov, R.G., Sataev, R.M. & Tishkin A.A. Transactions of Margiana Archaeological Expedition, To the memory of Professor Viktor Sarianidi, 6, Staryj Sad, pp.509-521, 2016, 978-5-89930-150-6. halshs-01534928 HAL Id: halshs-01534928 https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-01534928 Submitted on 8 Jun 2017 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. N.N. MIKLUKHO-MAKLAY INSTITUTE OF ETHNOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY OF RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES MARGIANA ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPEDITION ALTAY STATE UNIVERSITY TRANSACTIONS OF MARGIANA ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPEDITION Volume 6 To the Memory of Professor Victor Sarianidi Editorial board N.A. Dubova (editor in chief), E.V. Antonova, P.M. Kozhin, M.F. Kosarev, R.G. Muradov, R.M. Sataev, A.A. Tishkin Moscow 2016 Туркменистан, Гонур-депе, 9 октября 2005 г.
    [Show full text]
  • Piece Mold, Lost Wax & Composite Casting Techniques of The
    Piece Mold, Lost Wax & Composite Casting Techniques of the Chinese Bronze Age Behzad Bavarian and Lisa Reiner Dept. of MSEM College of Engineering and Computer Science September 2006 Table of Contents Abstract Approximate timeline 1 Introduction 2 Bronze Transition from Clay 4 Elemental Analysis of Bronze Alloys 4 Melting Temperature 7 Casting Methods 8 Casting Molds 14 Casting Flaws 21 Lost Wax Method 25 Sanxingdui 28 Environmental Effects on Surface Appearance 32 Conclusion 35 References 36 China can claim a history rich in over 5,000 years of artistic, philosophical and political advancement. As well, it is birthplace to one of the world's oldest and most complex civilizations. By 1100 BC, a high level of artistic and technical skill in bronze casting had been achieved by the Chinese. Bronze artifacts initially were copies of clay objects, but soon evolved into shapes invoking bronze material characteristics. Essentially, the bronze alloys represented in the copper-tin-lead ternary diagram are not easily hot or cold worked and are difficult to shape by hammering, the most common techniques used by the ancient Europeans and Middle Easterners. This did not deter the Chinese, however, for they had demonstrated technical proficiency with hard, thin walled ceramics by the end of the Neolithic period and were able to use these skills to develop a most unusual casting method called the piece mold process. Advances in ceramic technology played an influential role in the progress of Chinese bronze casting where the piece mold process was more of a technological extension than a distinct innovation. Certainly, the long and specialized experience in handling clay was required to form the delicate inscriptions, to properly fit the molds together and to prevent them from cracking during the pour.
    [Show full text]