Iron Age began in Tamil Nadu: Study

Chennai’s Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, recently announced that the Iron Age in India began in Tamil Nadu, over 5,300 years ago, during the early 4th millennium BCE. This claim is backed by recent archaeological findings from the Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department. The discoveries suggest that the use of iron and iron-smelting technology in South India predates many established dates of iron usage elsewhere, including in the Indus Valley Civilisation.

Key Highlights

• Discovery of Iron Use in Tamil Nadu: Archaeological findings, supported by radiocarbon dating, reveal that iron was used in Tamil Nadu as early as 3345 BCE. This discovery suggests that the Iron Age in South India began much earlier than previously thought.
  • The results confirmed that iron was introduced to South India in the 4th millennium BCE.
  • Till now, it is believed that the Iron Age began in the Middle East and South-eastern Europe around 1,200 BCE – that is roughly 3,200 years ago.
• Iron Objects Found: Excavations at sites like Sivagalai (Thoothukudi district) revealed over 85 iron objects, such as axes, knives, chisels, and swords, suggesting a sophisticated early use of iron tools and weapons.
• These findings rewrite the history of India, showing that Tamil Nadu is the cradle of early iron technology. This highlights the cultural and technological advancements of ancient Tamil societies.
• Key Sites

• Sivagalai (Thoothukudi): Excavations at this burial site revealed over 85 iron objects, including weapons and tools. The radiocarbon dating of charcoal and paddy samples from the site confirmed the presence of iron as early as 3345 BCE.
• Adichanallur (Thoothukudi): Another important site, where charcoal samples in association with iron objects were dated to around 2500 BCE, further confirming the early introduction of iron in Tamil Nadu.
• Mayiladumparai (Krishnagiri): This site revealed cultural items dating from the Microlithic to the Late Medieval period, with iron tools and other relics, helping trace the introduction of iron to the 2nd millennium BCE.

What is the Iron Age (1200 BCE and 600 BCE)?

• The Iron Age was a significant period in human history, occurring between 1200 BCE and 600 BCE, depending on the region.
• It began around 1200 BCE in the Mediterranean and Near East, when several major Bronze Age civilizations, like the Mycenaeans in Greece and the Hittites in Turkey, collapsed.
• It followed the Stone Age and Bronze Age.
• It was defined by the widespread use of iron and steel to create tools and weapons.
• In many parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, societies moved from using bronze to iron, which was stronger and more abundant. However, some civilizations, such as Ancient Greece, experienced a cultural decline during this transition.
• Iron Age Timeline and Key Features
  • Decline of the Bronze Age: The collapse of these civilizations is still debated, but theories include droughts, earthquakes, famine, invasions and disruption in trade routes by nomadic tribes.
  • End of the Iron Age: The Iron Age typically ended around 550 BCE, with the rise of writing and recorded history, but this date can vary by region. For example, in Scandinavia, it continued until around 800 CE, marked by the rise of the Vikings. In Western and Central Europe, it ended around the 1st century BCE, coinciding with the Roman conquests.