Bead-making workshops have been discovered at the Harappan site of Lothal. Lothal is a well-preserved Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) site located in the Bhal region of Gujarat, India. It is one of the most important IVC sites, and is known for its well-planned urban layout, its dockyard, and its bead-making workshops.
The bead-making workshops at Lothal were located in the southern part of the city, near the dockyard. The workshops were made up of a series of rooms that were used for different stages of the bead-making process. The first step in the process was to grind the raw materials into a fine powder. This was done using a variety of tools, including grinding stones, mortars, and pestles. The powdered materials were then mixed with water and formed into small balls. These balls were then heated until they were hard. Once the balls were hard, they were cut into small pieces and polished. The finished beads were then strung together and used in jewelry or other decorative items.
The bead-making workshops at Lothal were an important part of the IVC economy. The beads that were made at Lothal were traded throughout the IVC region, and they were also exported to other parts of the world. The beads were made from a variety of materials, including carnelian, agate, lapis lazuli, and turquoise. The beads were made in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they were often decorated with intricate designs.
The bead-making workshops at Lothal provide us with a glimpse into the lives of the people of the IVC. The workshops show us that the people of the IVC were skilled artisans who were able to produce high-quality goods. The workshops also show us that the people of the IVC were involved in a complex trade network that extended throughout the region.