Ancient Indian Mining Metallurgy and Metal Industries (In 2 Volumes)

Material progress of any country, apart from other things, depends upon mining, metallurgy and metal industries. The credit of providing impetus to material progress, in modern times, no doubt, goes to scientific technology. Even the cursory survey of history of mankind reveals fairly well that people all over the world, and much before the dawn of modern scientific age, have been exploring the possibilities conducive to their material progress. Moreover, science is an ever growing process and modern scientific age, therefore, is not an instant born phenomenon; it has its roots in the past that need to be looked into for the vertical growth of scientific knowledge helpful for the welfare of mankind. The present book is a study of the subject in the background of ancient India and is based on archaeological literary and technological studies, covering very wide phase, commencing from earliest times upto 19th century. One learns that India has a glorious heritage, not only in the field of humanity, but also in the sphere of scientific techniques and with a message of interaction between the two for the harmonious growth of material and spiritual aspects of the life of man. The book is spread over five chapters. Chapter 1 deals with the scope of the study among other things a short survey of the history of metals in the ancient Indian metallurgy and metal industries. Besides, a note on the scientific examination of the ancient metal objects underlying its relevance is appended. Chapter 2 deals extensively with the origins of copper metallurgy i.e., location of copper mines and ores and introduction of bronze industry. It refers in detail to the metal casting in ancient India and its allied metallic artwares. Chapter 3 is devoted to the study of noble metals e.g. Gold and Silver. It lays special emphasis on the gold mines of South India and ancient objects of metallurgical uniqueness and artistic productions. The recent Indian metallic artwares are also made subject of study. Chapter 4 contains an exhaustive study of Indian iron metallurgy and with special reference to the steel production of South India. The study of miscellaneous metals like brass, tin, zinc, lead etc. is also dealt in chapter 5. A section devoted to mines and minting industry is also added to it.