The Iron Age in India differs from the rest of the world, where it followed the Copper-Bronze Age.
In India, the north (around the Vindhyas) saw the Chalcolithic or Copper Age, while the south was associated with iron from over 3,000 sites.
Traditionally, the Iron Age in India was thought to begin around the second millennium BCE.
Excavations in Sivagalai (2019-2022) suggest iron technology was present in the early 4th millennium BCE.
Earlier, the earliest evidence of iron in India was dated to around 1800 BCE, based on studies in Uttar Pradesh’s mid-Ganga Valley.
The findings were scientifically validated by institutions like Beta Analytic laboratory in the U.S.
The discovery could change how archaeologists approach the Iron Age in India, suggesting the need to focus on iron-specific sites rather than mixed copper-and-iron sites to improve research efficiency.
Tamil Nadu’s Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) aims to advance research in this area but has jurisdictional limits, indicating the need for collaboration with other southern states.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) should facilitate coordinated research across southern India to maximize resources and expertise for more accurate findings.
This work aims to provide concrete evidence against political misuse of history, ensuring that facts drive historical understanding rather than unfounded claims.
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