Lapis lazuli
Topic: Harappan (Sindhu-Sarasvati) Civilisation · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 1 "Bricks, Beads and Bones"
Meaning
Lapis lazuli is a deep blue semi-precious stone. A semi-precious stone is valued for its beauty but is less costly than a gem like diamond. The Harappans valued it highly for beads and ornaments. Its best source was Badakhshan in Afghanistan, far from the Harappan heartland. It shows how far the Harappans went to get valuable materials.
Example
To get lapis lazuli, the Harappans set up a settlement at Shortughai in north-east Afghanistan, near the Badakhshan source. Mesopotamian texts of the 3rd millennium BCE list lapis lazuli among the goods that came from Meluhha, the Harappan region.
Don't confuse with
- Carnelian: a red stone the Harappans got from Gujarat. Lapis lazuli is blue and came from Afghanistan.
Related concepts
- Chanhudaro
- Harappan bead-making
- Carnelian
- Carnelian beads
- Steatite
- Faience
- Shortughai
- Khetri copper region
- Harappan bronze
- Daimabad bronzes