Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c20.s3.t2.1

v1.c20.s3.t2.1

Having discounted the claims of Ahar, Loebarn, Pirak, Timargarh etc. (vide fig. 12.2 taken from Prakash and Tripathi, 1986) for being the earliest Iron Age Sites in India, we are left with the dates of Atrañjikhera (1155 BC) and Tadakanhalli (12th century BC). Until new data force us to review our stand, we may propose that the advent of iron took place in India indigenously and independently in at least two nuclear zones: Rajasthan-Uttar Pradesh area in the north and Karnataka area in the south. We do not preclude independent contribution from the West Bengal-Bihar area in the east.