Ancient Indus Jewellery
Fired steatite was an important material used in many different types of Indus jewelry. Steatite beads are found in all four necklaces in the center of this collection of jewelry from Harappa and Mohenjo-daro.
Ancient Indus Civilization Jewelry.
Two gold beads
These two gold bead were originally part of the same ornament. Thin gold foil was placed over the outside of a sandy core around a copper tube (H2000-4382/2087-02, Mound E, Trench 54).
Kot Diji phase raw materials
During the Kot Diji phase many new types of raw material were brought to Harappa for making ornaments and tools, indicating expanded trade networks and suggesting a growing population of consumers.
Green stone bead
This unique green stone bead, hardly 1 cm long, was found in the ash at the edge of a Kot Diji phase hearth. The material has not yet been identified, but it may be a form of obsidian.
Coiled wire necklace
This unique discovery of a coiled copper-alloy wire necklace (H2000/2242-01) has traces of fibers preserved on the inside.
Steatite bead blanks
A high concentration of tiny steatite bead blanks was found on an ashy floor near the kiln dump in Trench 54. Each (modern) bamboo piece is pointing at one bead.
Unfinished steatite beads
Hundreds of unfinished steatite beads were found in one small area an ashy floor in Trench 54. Some of the tiny wafers are perforated.
Experimental steatite manufacture
Experimental manufacture of steatite beads helps us to understand the intricacies of the process. The thin wafers are perforated and then strung on a cord to grind and polish them prior to firing.
Black and white spiral faience bead
Black and white spiral faience bead (H2000-5005/9845-48 from Trench 43).
Harappa unique cylindrical object made of maroon and white faience
Unique cylindrical object made of maroon and white faience from Harappa (H99-3856/8756-26 from Trench 43, length = 21.9 mm). Numerous examples of this identical type of bead have been found in other parts of Harappa, but this may have been where they