Metallurgy in ancient India

India has a rich cultural heritage to boast about, but what many would not know is that ancient India had several achievements in metallurgy too. History traces the origin of metallurgy in India to 1st millennium BC. In ancient Vedic texts, there is sufficient mention of metals to support the fact that people of that era made use of metals in creating weapons, armour, ornaments, statues, pillars, artifacts, and–believe it or not–medicine.



Iron

The Iron Pillar in Delhi is proof of advanced metallurgy in ancient India. The pillar weighs over six tonnes, is more than seven metres tall, and is constructed on a single forge. Even in today’s technologically advanced world, creating an iron pillar of this nature will be considered a marvel. But what is even more marvelous is the fact that the pillar has not rusted, despite being 98 percent iron and over 1,600 years old. This is because the ancient Indians used charcoal as a reducing agent to extract pure iron with low carbon from the ore. Studies reveal that the use of iron may have begun in India from about the late 2nd millennium BC, and iron smelting was well established during that era.

Gold

The Indians’ love for gold is known the world over. People in India buy gold for a variety of reasons and the buying is not limited to any season. Gold has a certain status symbol associated with it and also carries high investment value. It comes as no wonder then, that the kings and queens of ancient India adorned themselves with gold ornaments, while gold coins were used as bullion. While much of the gold in the past was imported from the Roman empire, research shows that local supplies also formed a significant portion. The deepest ancient gold mine in the world was situated in Karnataka in India, with carbon dates from 1st millennium BC.

Zinc 

Ancient mining sites found in Rajasthan reveal the use of highly developed metallurgical technology for extraction of zinc in ancient India. It is also believed that the production of zinc during that era was very common, and there is evidence to suggest that zinc was first produced in India.

Sliver 

The discovery of ancient coins made of silver suggests that the metal was well in use in ancient India. The Aravalli region in northwest India is supposed to have been producing silver from about the mid of 1st millennium BC onwards, ranking it among the few major ancient silver-producing sites.

Copper

Copper and its alloys were used to create copper-bronze artifacts in India during 2nd millennium BC. Bronze images of Buddha and Hindu deities found in Magadha and Varanasi are ample proof of the rich use of copper technology in ancient India.

Metal therapy

Processed metals like mercury, gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, etc., were used by Indian seers to treat different disease conditions in ancient India. The metals acted as therapeutic tools that the seers used with authority.

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