New Discovery on Antiquity of Iron in Indian Subcontinent

Reference:

Recently, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu released a book titled ‘Antiquity of Iron’. This book deals with the antiquity of iron in the Indian subcontinent.

About the new study on the antiquity of iron in the Indian subcontinent:

• Basis of Evidence: In the book ‘Antiquity of Iron’, historians K. Rajan and R. Sivanantham have mentioned a report titled ‘Antiquity of Iron: Recent Radiometric Dates from Tamil Nadu’ regarding the antiquity of iron.
• Archaeological Site: Samples related to this have been found from the Sivagalai site in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu.

Key findings of the archaeological report:

• According to this report, the Iron Age in the Indian subcontinent first began in the first quarter of the fourth millennium BCE in modern Tamil Nadu.
  • That is, iron was used in South India 5,300 years ago.
  • The Copper Age of North India and the Iron Age of South India were probably contemporaneous.
• However, excavations prior to this report at Sivagalai, Adichanallur, Mayiladumparai, Kilnamandi and Mangadu suggest that the date of iron use in Tamil Nadu was between 2500 BCE and 3000 BCE.

About the research methodology

• Both accelerator mass spectrometry and optically stimulated luminescence were adopted to examine the archaeological evidence obtained.
• The samples were sent to Beta Analytic Testing Laboratory, US, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow and Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad to ascertain the results of carbon dating method.

Significance of discovery:

• According to archaeology experts, it is important not only for India but also in terms of world archaeology.
• Iron smelting requires high temperature of about 1,200 to 1,400 degree Celsius as well as superior technology for any civilization as compared to other metals.
• It shows that people of Tamil region had mastered the skill of iron smelting around 5,300 years ago.

Role of Iron in the Evolution of Human Race:

Iron technology is the most important discovery in the evolution of human race. The use of iron has played an important role in the history of mankind as it was used in making tools for agricultural work and this led to growth in trade and eventually the formation of state.