Evidence for processing silver in Binjor (4MSR) site
The terracotta vessel shown below was perhaps used to create metal alloys with kumuda'silver'. This furnace activity is signified by the rebus hieroglyph: kumir̤'pronounced globular knob in a vessel'. The globular knob also evokes the following etyma:goṭā 'round pebble, stone' Rebus: goṭā ''laterite, ferrite ore''gold braid' खोट [khōṭa] ‘ingot, wedge’; A mass of metal (unwrought or of old metal melted down)(Marathi) khoṭ f ʻalloy' (Lahnda) गोटी [ gōṭī ] f (Dim. of गोटा) A roundish stone or pebble rebus A lump of silver: as obtained by melting down lace or fringe.
See:
.![Image result for binjor pot frontline]()
This terracotta vessel with a pronounced knob at the centre has engaged the attention of archaeologists as a "unique find" and is probably used in rituals or ceremonies. Similar vessels have been depicted on Harappan seals and copper plates. Photo:ASI
Together with the pot with a roundish blob, many furnaces were discovered. Source: https://frontline.thehindu.com/arts-and-culture/heritage/telltale-furnaces/article9721082.ece
An oval furnace with a hub in the middle for keeping the crucible where artisans kept the copper ingots before fashioning them into artefacts. The furnace has holes for aeration and for inserting tuyeres to work up the flames. Photo:V.V. KRISHNAN
The star discovery of the year at 4MSR, the Archaeological Survey of India's site in Rajasthan, was this oval-shaped furnace lined with mud bricks. It was in furnaces such as these that the laborious process of making copper artefacts began. The furnace was used to smelt copper from the copper ore. It had a hole for inserting the tuyere for fanning the flame and holes on its sides for aeration. Beside the furnace is an anvil
where the sheeted ore was hammered into ingots. Photo:T.S. Subramanian
A circular hearth with charcoal pieces and ash. Harappans made beads out of steatite, agate, carnelian, lapis lazuli, and so on here. Photo:T.S. SUBRAMANIAN
A yoni-shaped furnace found at 4MSR. Photo:T.S. SUBRAMANIAN
kumuda 'gmelina arborea leaf' rebus: kumuda 'silver'
The tablet is inscribed in bas-relief; the term for such writing is:
Rebus: कु-मुद 'silver' (Monier-Williams)
Ta. kumir̤ coomb teak, small cashmere tree; kūmpal coomb teak, Gmelina arborea. Ma. kumir̤, kumpiḷ G. asiatica. Ka.(Lush.) kumuḷe, kumbuḍi, kūḷe G. arborea. Koḍ. kummi, kumbïḷi id. Te. (Lush.) gummuḍu, gumuḍu G. arborea and asiatica; (Inscr.) kumaḍu G. arborea. Kol. (Kin.) kumre G. arborea. Pa. gumṛi id. Go. (Tr.) gummur marā the kumīn tree, Careya arborea (Voc. 1149); (Koya Lush.) gumudu G. arborea; (LuS.) koomooree the koombhee tree. / Cf. Skt. (lex.) kumudā- G. arborea. (DEDR 1742)
Ta. kumir̤ knob (as of wooden sandals), stud, pommel, hump of an ox; kumir̤i boss, knob (as of wooden sandals); kuppiferrule (e.g. on scabbard, horn of ox). Ma. kumir̤ knob, pommel; mushroom; kuppi brass knob on tip of bullock's horn. Ka. gubbiknob, protuberance; kuppu, guppu an abnormal globular excrescence of the body; gubāru swelling. Tu. gubbi, gubbè stud, ornamental knob, button. Te. gubaka knob, boss, stud; gubba id., protuberance, woman's breast; guburu protuberance; kuppeknob. Konḍa (BB) koparam hump of bullock. Pe. gomoṇ hump of ox (or with 1731(a) Ta. kuppam). Manḍ. gupeṛ id. (or with 1731(a) Ta. kuppam). (DEDR 1743)