Iron Age began in Tamil Nadu over 5,300 years ago, reveals new study

Citing the research, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin said the use of iron on Tamil soil could be dated back to early 4000 BCE. (Courtesy: X | @mkstalin)

Recent carbon dating of samples from burial urns in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin district suggests the Iron Age could well have begun in the state. As per the study, Iron Age began at least 1,000 years before it was earlier estimated.

The two charcoal samples found along with iron objects at the site have been dated to 3,345 BCE and 3,259 BCE, making the Iron Age in Tamil Nadu the oldest in the world. Earlier, people of the Hittite Empire (Turkey) were believed to be the first to use iron, in 1,380 BCE.

On January 23, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin claimed that the Iron Age began in the region and the use of iron on Tamil soil could be dated to the first quarter of 4th millennium BCE, thus establishing that iron usage was prominent in South India over 5,300 years ago.

"We have scientifically established that iron was introduced 5,300 years ago in the Tamil landscape. The Iron Age began from Tamil land," he said, releasing the study 'Antiquity of Iron: Recent Radiometric Dates from Tamil Nadu' by K Rajan and R Sivananthan.