TAMIL NADU’S IRON AGE DISCOVERY CHALLENGES GLOBAL METALLURGICAL HISTORY

GS1 SOCIETY

Recent archaeological studies in Tamil Nadu have pushed the timeline of iron technology back to the early 4th millennium BCE, significantly earlier than the previously accepted period of 1500-2000 BCE.

Key Findings:

• Over 85 iron objects, including tools and weapons, were found, indicating advanced metallurgical techniques.
• Sites like Adichanallur (2517 BCE) and Mayiladumparai (2172 BCE) provided key evidence.
• Radiometric dating confirmed iron smelting began around 3345 BCE in Tamil Nadu, predating the Indus Valley Civilization.

Innovations in Smelting:

• Three types of furnaces were discovered, with Kodumanal’s circular furnaces reaching 1,300°C, enabling the production of sponge iron.

Implications:

• The discovery suggests Tamil Nadu’s Iron Age may have coexisted with the Copper Age in Northern India, challenging previous historical narratives.
• The findings challenge the Hittite Empire’s traditionally credited role in developing iron technology and suggest South India was a key early adopter.

This discovery reshapes our understanding of ancient metallurgy and could alter the interpretation of other ancient sites, including those linked to the Harappan civilization.