Different techniques were employed based on the material used. Steatite, a soft stone, allowed for more diverse shapes, unlike the geometrical forms made from harder stones. The process of creating steatite micro beads remains a mystery for archaeologists. Use of Fire- Archaeological experiments revealed that carnelian beads acquired their red color by firing the yellowish raw material at various stages of production. Harappans established settlements like Nageshwar and Balakot in areas abundant in shell resources, while Shortughai in Afghanistan provided access to lapis lazuli, a highly valued blue stone. Lothal was strategically located near sources of carnelian, steatite, and metal. The Harappans had a well-regulated system of exchanges that involved the use of precise weights. The weights used in trade were typically made of chert & were cubical in shape without any markings. The lower denominations of weights followed a binary system, including values such as 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and so on, up to 12,800. On the other hand, the higher denominations of weights followed the decimal system. |