The determination of the age using radiocarbon dating has inadvertently revealed a remarkable civilization, where technology was “timeless”, ahead of the rest of the world by several hundred to several thousand years. Four thousand two hundred years ago, it was already the Iron Age!
A team of scientists has studied the archaeological site of Mayiladumpara in Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India, and made a “lifetime” discovery. According to Deccan Herald, they conducted radiocarbon dating on organic materials found in the area where numerous iron tools and weapons produced with the latest technology were excavated.
Tamil Nadu is a land of mystery with countless relics from the bustling capital of the ancient Tamil empire and many other civilizations – (Photo: ANCIENT ORIGINS)
The results are completely shocking: these weapons date back to 4,200 years ago. This means that the Iron Age here began hundreds of years earlier than the renowned “timeless” civilizations of the Near East, Egypt, and Greece.
At the milestone of 4,200 years ago, much of the rest of the world was still in the Stone Age, transitioning to the Bronze Age only 1,000-2,000 years later, and it would take even longer before iron tools were produced.
The Ancient Origins website quoted Mr. Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu: “The earliest remains from the Iron Age in Tamil Nadu date back to 1,500 BCE, while other sites in the country go back over 2,000 BCE. There are many questions about why there is no scientific evidence of iron usage despite its mention in ancient texts and the abundant iron ore in the Salem region (in Tamil Nadu). With this new discovery, we now have evidence.”
Dating indicates that the iron weapons produced with technology similar to modern times originated in 2,172 BCE, suggesting that the Iron Age here could have started even earlier.
The dating was conducted by the Beta Analytic laboratory in Miami, Florida, one of the world’s most reputable archaeological research facilities.
Additionally, scientists also found another set of weapons dating back to 1,615 BCE.
According to Mr. Stalin, ancient texts and other evidence indicate that the early knowledge of iron usage allowed the people of Tamil Nadu to transform dense forests into fertile agricultural land, possibly giving rise to the region’s thriving agricultural activities.
The history of Tamil Nadu is of great interest as it was once the heartland of the great Tamil Empire, which reached its zenith in the 4th century BCE, recognized as the Golden Age of cultural achievements in Southern India. The Tamil territory extended all the way to present-day Sri Lanka, with a civilization based on bustling urban centers and prosperous trade.
