gems, ancient gems, glyptic, archaeology, archaeogemology, beads, chalcedony, technology, treatment, archaeological, South Asia, Indus Valley, Mohenjo-Daro, Chanhu-Daro, Harappa, stone drills modern use of double diamond drill bit in Khambhat, agate, carnelian, steatite, turquoise, jasper, serpentine (?), green aventurine

Archaeology and the study of ancient peoples have long been captivating fields, evolving from early treasure-hunting and collecting ventures into a more scientific investigation of cultural development and change. Recent research into the Indus Civilization, along with its Neolithic and Early Chalcolithic predecessors in the Indus Valley and Baluchistan, is uncovering new dimensions of human culture in South Asia. While the Indus Civilization has been renowned for its beads—traded as far as Mesopotamia—only now are scholars beginning to unravel the intricate techniques behind their production and the socio-economic organization of the industry that created them.