New research published this week examines a cache of Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP) culture copper mirrors discovered in the northern Aravalli range. The study reveals that ancient Indian metallurgists achieved a high-polish finish through a specific alloying process involving tin and arsenic, predating similar techniques found in the Mediterranean by several centuries.
These artifacts indicate that the OCP culture, often associated with the late-Vedic period, possessed advanced metallurgical knowledge specifically for personal grooming and ritualistic purposes. The mirrors were found alongside crucibles and slag, suggesting a localized production hub in Rajasthan.