Metallurgy, Materials & Chemistry
Early iron metallurgy
c. 1800-1200 BCEIndian ironworkersArchaeological sites (Malhar, Lahuradewa)Tamil Nadu
1,800 BCECorrected
Iron smelting developed in India around the same time as, but independently of, Anatolia.
- Dated
- 1,800–1,200 BCE
- As scholars put it
- c. 1800-1200 BCE
- Originator
- Indian ironworkers
- Source text
- Archaeological sites (Malhar, Lahuradewa)
- Region
- Tamil Nadu
- Discipline
- Metallurgy, Materials & Chemistry
- Evidence
- Documented
- Confidence
- High
- Verification
- Corrected
Meanwhile in the West
Part of the global Iron Age, developed independently.
Fair to say
One of several independent centres of early ironworking. Update (2025): Tamil Nadu dating reports claim far older iron-associated dates (up to 3345 BCE at Sivagalai, c. 2200-2100 BCE at other southern sites). These are contested and listed as separate entries.
Path to modern innovation
Iron and steel remain foundational materials.
1,800 BCEEarly iron metallurgy
300 BCE
375 CETransmission
Independent origin.
References
- 1R. Tewari, on early iron in India
Further reading
Related
Corrections and additional sources: edit IND-102 on GitHub.