The branch of science and technology-related with the properties of metals and their production and purification is called metallurgy. People of India have been making the use of metallurgy in their daily life since the ancient time.Ancient India made extraordinary progress in the field of metallurgy. The proof of this is the metallic idol of a female dancer discovered from the Indus Valley Civilization. Metal statues of Buddha belonging to the Kushan period were also found at Takshashila which further proves our excellence in metalwork. Several idols were made in south India during the Chola period. The finest example of this is the metal statue of Nataraja, which has become world-famous. At present, this statue is preserved in a museum of Chennai. The museum also has the ancient statue of Lord Rama (the archer). Fine ancient metal artistic statues of Gods-Goddesses, birds and animals and betel-nut cutters, etc. are also wonderful examples of our rich metallic art.