1st-3rd Century CE - Lanka
Ruhuna - Copper Rods

Rods with rounded ends which were used for applying antimony makeup on the eyelids. They have also been found in Anuradhapura and excavations at Taxila which are dated to 4th century BC. This was found in Akurugoda in area of Tissamaharama.

SPECIFICATIONS
AlloyCopper
TypeCast
Length72.5 mm
Diameter6.1/3.2 mm
Weight7.89 gms
ShapeRod-Full
 ruhuna_rod_sb
Specimen 1 : Full Rod of slightly shorter than a 3-inch Q-tip

They are listed under Miscellaneous Objects : Antimony Rods in the 1999 catalog by Osmund Bopearachchi and Rajah Wickramasinhe titled Ruhuna. An Ancient Civilization Re-visited . They list (N.36-N.47) a dozen complete straight rods which range in length from 134-78 mm and weights from 19-11 gms with no prefered length or weight. Listings (N.48-N.51) are twisted and bent over to point in same direction. Listings (N.52-N.53) have other head indicating that they had other applications. The first for cleaning ear wax similar to spoon listed in this collection. This copper rod halfs above were both obtained directly from the same collector who provided most of the items for that book.

The copper rods were scanned at 300 dpi and displayed at 150 dpi. They were obtained in 2003 May from Mr A. Ratnayaka a collector in Katharagama, Lanka.