Tamil Nadu's Iron Age Claim
CM M.K. Stalin stated the Iron Age began on Tamil soil around 5,300 years ago (4th millennium BCE), highlighting Tamil Nadu’s significance in Indian history.
Earlier Research on Iron’s Origins
Earlier studies dated iron usage in India to 700-600 BCE, but later radiocarbon dating pushed it to as early as the 16th century BCE.
Excavations in Uttar Pradesh (1996-2001) found iron artefacts, furnaces, and tuyeres dating from 1800 to 1000 BCE
Tamil Nadu's Iron Age Evidence
In 2022, the Mayiladumparai excavation suggested the Iron Age began in Tamil Nadu 4,200 years ago (3rd millennium BCE), with the state's limited copper ore resources pushing it to adopt iron earlier.
The recent report, “Antiquity of Iron: Recent Radiometric Dates from Tamil Nadu,” places the Iron Age in Tamil Nadu between 3,345 BCE and 2,953 BCE, indicating it began in the 4th millennium BCE.
Significance of the Findings
While Tamil Nadu entered the Iron Age earlier, it doesn't imply the origin of the Iron Age itself was in Tamil Nadu.
The findings spark further research into the history and culture of Tamil Nadu, shedding light on regional variations in technological advancements.
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