New research published in Heritage Science has unveiled advanced metallurgical techniques used by the people of the ancient Vanga region (modern-day Bengal) during the 4th century BCE. Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), scientists examined several ritual daggers and tools, discovering a high concentration of antimony on the surfaces. This specific alloying technique was used to create a hard, corrosion-resistant outer layer while maintaining a flexible core.
The study suggests that these early metalworkers had mastered a process of vapor-phase deposition or specialized smelting that allowed for the precise control of antimony content. This finding is significant because such high-purity antimony usage was thought to be a much later development. The research team argues that the Vanga region was a major hub of metallurgical innovation, trading these advanced tools along the maritime routes of the Bay of Bengal, influencing metalworking traditions as far as Southeast Asia.