2. Transition from the Neolithic to the Chalcolithic Age

The Rigveda is not a manual on metallurgy, and hence we cannot expect too many details on minerals and metals in this earliest literature of the mankind. Yet we do obtain here a glimpse into the transition from the neolithic to the chalcolithic age in India. The Rgveda contains several words for the stone: asman, adri, pasya etc., of which the first i.e. asman is the most significant one. Mehta and Kantawala (1987) have discussed the varieties of stone-tools in the Rgveda. In Rigveda. 1.191.15 the text bhinadmy asmana indicates a cutting stone-tool which could be a blade, celt or cleaver. The asmanam vajram (Rigveda. 4.22.1) is evidently a vajra or weapon made of stone. Later a similar weapon was made of ayasa or metal. The simultaneous appearance of the words Kamara and asman in 9.112.2 led Mehta et al (1987) to propose that Kamara was a stone-worker rather than a blacksmith. It may be

II-4 recorded here that in the Pre-Harappan stratum of Kalibangan, chalcedony and agate blades have been found. These were serrated, mounted on wooden handle and probably used for cutting and sowing, At a later stage, chert blades were introduced. Side by side coppermade axe and parasu were found, the latter probably used for cutting scrubby bushes (Lal, 1979:70). Chert and Chalcedony blades have been found at Banawali also (Bisht, 1982). (Hindi) The vasi in the Rgveda is probably an adze with a flat surface and a sloping edge for cutting or rough shaping of wooden materials. Its modern equivalent could be the carpenter's basula Rigveda 10.101.10 Mehta et al (1987) have pointed out that whereas [ refers to asmamayi vasi or stone-made implement, Rgveda 8.29.3 mentions vasim ayasim or a metallic axe. Sayana explains that this could be a stone adze with a metallic edge.