The famous female figurine known as ‘Dancing Girl’, found at Mohenjo-daro, is made of:

The “Dancing Girl” figurine is one of the most iconic artifacts of the Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilization. It was discovered in 1926 by archaeologist Ernest Mackay during excavations at Mohenjo-daro, a major urban center of the civilization. The statuette is made of bronze, measures about 10.5 cm in height, and dates to around 2500 BCE.

The Dancing Girl was crafted using the lost-wax casting technique (cire perdue), a highly advanced metallurgical method for its time. In this process, the artist first sculpted the figure in wax. This wax model was then coated with layers of clay, forming a mould. Once heated, the wax melted and drained out, leaving a hollow cavity in the exact shape of the figurine. Molten bronze, an alloy mainly of copper and tin, was then poured into this cavity. After cooling and solidification, the clay mould was broken to reveal the finished metal figure, which was further polished and refined.

The use of the lost-wax technique demonstrates the technological sophistication and metallurgical expertise of the Indus Valley people. It also indicates specialized craftsmanship and knowledge of alloy preparation, temperature control, and precision casting skills rarely matched in other contemporary civilizations.