Such bronze idols belongs to a
group of objects from India
published by the well-known
archaeologist Paul Alan Yale,
which he labelled collectively as
“Anthropomorphs”.
They are part of the Copper Hoard
culture – a Late Neolithic to Early
Bronze age society that extended
from the Gangetic Plains, across
Northern India and was first
detailed in 1822. They may be
divided in two distinct categories,
Types I and II.
These anthropomorphic idols were
often found alongside jewellery,
arrow heads and axe heads,
leading people to suggest that
they were deposits designed to be
eventually retrieved, in this life or
the next; although some objects
exhibit no signs of use and are
often oversized or paper-thin,
suggesting they were simply
dedicatory and of no physical or
mortal use.
The copper ore used in the hoards
comes mainly from modern day
Rajasthan, Southern Haryana and
West Bengal suggesting a
localised production and tradition.
Their originality, along with the
small number of examples found,
strengthens this idea that they
were a particularly idiosyncratic
object to this specific culture.
Each has a semi-circular head,
extended symmetrical limbs, the
same marks of production, and
weighs 3-6 kg. People have
ascribed these mysterious objects
various functions including
throwing weapons, ingots, axes or
multi-purpose tools; yet most
archaeologists agree they are
ceremonial votive idols. The
patina of this particular idol
suggests it spent many years
deposited underground, possibly
as part of a ceremonial burial.
- (CB.3020)
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