Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c24.s2.9

v1.c24.s2.9

Punjab and South India were important Indian centres of iron production during the pre-Christian era. In 1986, an iron foundary, dating back to the second century BC, appearing to be one of the world’s oldest, has been discovered on the banks of the Noyyal river in Tamil Nadu’s Periyar district. Excavations in the Koodamanal village by the epigraphists of Tamil University, Thanjavur, yielded evidences indicating a flourishing industrial centre making not only iron pieces for export but also shell bangles, beads and other products made of coral, shell, onyx, jasper, beryl, moonstone etc.