Elemental Analysis of Megalithic Gold Objects from Mahurjhari Site, Vidarbha region Maharashtra, India: Evidence for Dual Technological Traditions

Sachin Vidyadhar Joshi*, Shantanu Vaidya, and Korovi Chatterjee

Recent elemental analysis of gold artefacts recovered from Megalithic contexts provides new insights into metallurgical organization and craft specialization during the Megalithic period. Using compositional analysis techniques, including trace element profiling, the study identifies clear technological distinctions among examined objects. The results indicate the presence of two distinct working traditions or production communities. The first group consists of objects manufactured through gold plating techniques, characterized by thin gold layers applied over base metal cores. Elemental signatures suggest deliberate alloy selection and surface enrichment practices, reflecting advanced metallurgical knowledge and resource optimization strategies. The second group comprises artefacts produced through pure gold casting, exhibiting high gold purity and compositional homogeneity, consistent with primary casting methods and possibly access to richer gold sources. These findings suggest parallel metallurgical industries operating within Megalithic society, potentially representing specialized craft groups, differential access to raw materials, or socially stratified production systems. The coexistence of plating and pure casting technologies highlights technological diversity and organized production networks in the Megalithic period in Vidarbha region. The study contributes to broader discussions on early metallurgical innovation, craft specialization, and socio-economic organization in megalithic complex societies.