An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s16.1

v1.c9.s16.1

Before the beginning of the early historical period in c. 600 B.C. there were four iron-using centres within the limits of present-day India: (1) the Indo-Ganga divide and the doab (first iron in the PGW levels [4.15] of the region); (2) c. India, particularly Malwa (first iron in the post-Chalcolithic [4.14.5] but pre-NBPW stage); (3) the middle and lower Ganga valleys (same as the preceding); and (4) s. India, particularly Karnataka (first dated iron in the Megalithic context [4.17.8] at HALLUR). Technology and origin are discussed at the end.