An artificially produced vitreous material.
Explanation
In the context of the Indus Valley Civilization, Faience refers to a specific type of material used to create beads, bangles, earrings, and small vessels. Unlike stone or shell, which are found naturally, faience is an artificially produced material.
Detailed Analysis
- Composition and Process: Faience was made by cementing together sand or powdered quartz with a gum. The mixture was then molded into an object and fired.
- Appearance: The firing process resulted in a shiny, glassy surface. The glaze used on these objects usually gave them a blue or sea-green color.
- Significance: Archaeologists classify objects made of faience as valuable or "precious" because the technology required to produce them was complex and difficult compared to working with terracotta or stone.
- Distinction from other materials:
- It is not a natural stone.
- It is not a metal alloy like bronze.
- It is distinct from simple terracotta clay, which does not undergo the specific glazing and silica-fusion process characteristic of faience.
Key Takeaway: Faience is an artificially produced vitreous material made from silica (sand/quartz) and gum, known for its glazed, shiny finish, and was used to make luxury items in the Harappan civilization.