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Uncovering the mystery of the Indus Valley Civilization: How to use lost wax technology to make copper jewelry in ancient times?
Lost wax technology, also known as investment casting or precision casting, is an ancient metallurgical technology through which delicate metal objects, such as copper jewelry, are made. This technology can be traced back to more than 6,500 years ago. With archaeological discoveries, we can understand how ancient humans mastered this craft, especially its application in the Indus Valley Civilization.
Metal casting was already common during the Indus Valley Civilization dynasties, especially Mohenjo-daro and Harappa. Archaeologists have discovered many copper products, and the manufacturing of these products shows obvious characteristics of lost wax craftsmanship. This technique is not limited to copper jewelry, the use of gold and bronze is also accompanied by the promotion of this technique.
At the heart of this casting technique lies its precision, allowing every detail of the original model to be reproduced in production.
Steps of Lost Wax Technology
The process of lost wax technology can be simply summarized into a few steps, which demonstrate the high skill and artistry of this technology.
- Model making: First, the artist or model maker creates the original model (usually in wax).
- Mold making: Cover the model in a layer of mold material to form an outer mold and an inner mold, ensuring that the mold can accurately reproduce various details of the model.
- Pouring wax: Pour the molten wax into the mold and spread it evenly to ensure the desired thickness is formed.
- Removing the wax: Wait for the wax to cool before removing it from the mold.
- Enhancing and joining: Trim each wax copy, and then glue the small parts according to the design requirements.
- Molding and pouring: Covering a wax model with a mixture of clay or sand and then heating it to melt the wax and leave a cavity in the mold.
- Made: Molten metal is poured into a mold and then allowed to cool to form the final piece.
- Cleaning: Remove molds and grind and polish metal castings.
This series of steps consumes a lot of time and effort, and each step needs to be treated with care to obtain a perfect metal casting.
Copper ornaments of the Indus Valley Civilization
In archeology, the copper ornaments of the Indus Valley Civilization exist like works of art. They are a symbol of social progress at that time. Not only do these objects have practical uses, they are often used as religious or cultural symbolic elements. Statues such as the "Dancing Girl" excavated at Mohenjodaro are representative of this period. These ornaments date from 2300 to 1750 BC.
Archaeologists pointed out that the production of these metal works demonstrated the society's pursuit of craftsmanship at that time, and they reached a high level in both functionality and artistry.
The impact of lost wax technology
The impact of lost wax technology is vast and it still has a profound impact on future generations. In South Asia and surrounding areas, this technology is widely used in the production of various metal products, not only limited to copper, but also including precious metals such as gold and silver.
In ancient Egypt, lost wax technology was used to make religious ornaments and daily utensils; in Mesopotamia, metal craftsmen also used this technology to produce a large number of statues and decorations. With the passage of time and the exchange and integration of cultures from various places, the lost wax technology gradually evolved and improved.
Modern lost wax technology
Today, lost wax technology has evolved into an investment casting technology with modern industrial significance and is widely used in the manufacturing of automobiles, aviation and medical equipment. In this industrialized world, the development of technology has, to some extent, led people to explore ancient technologies again.
With the development of science and technology, past technologies have been given new life and forms, as evidenced by lost wax technology.
When we discuss ancient civilizations, lost wax technology is not only a technology, but also the crystallization of culture and art. Can contemporary people inherit and develop these ancient skills and become part of future artistic innovation?
