Iron Age began in Tamil landscape, says CM Stalin, terms it TN’s 5,300-year-old gift to human race

CHENNAI: Seeking to place Tamil Nadu at the very beginning of modern human evolution, Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday said evidence unearthed at archaeological sites around the State – which were validated by reputed labs in India and abroad – has shown that the Iron Age began in the Tamil landscape where the technology to extract iron from its ore was first introduced 5,300 years ago.

Announcing the results of the excavations undertaken by the Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department and validated by three different labs, including the BETA Analytics lab in Florida, USA, Chief Minister Stalin said, “The Iron Age began from the Tamil landscape. I would like to announce to not just India, but the whole world. Iron melting technology was introduced in the Tamil landscape more than 5,300 years ago.”

Archaeological excavations undertaken now in Tamil Nadu and recent results of the carbon dating studies have shown that the age of introduction of iron pre-dates 4,000 BC. “We can say with certainty that Iron was introduced in south India, particularly Tamil Nadu, 5,300 years ago. I announce this as the result of studies (done by the archaeological department),” he said.

At a function in Chennai on Thursday, Stalin also released “Irumbin Thonmai” (Antiquity of Iron), a book that details the excavations done across Tamil Nadu, the samples retrieved, and the tests that validated the antiquity of the samples.

Samples validated by three labs, including BETA Analytics in Florida

Backing his claim with research findings, Stalin said the samples from archaeological excavations undertaken by the State Archaeology Department were sent to leading labs in the world, including Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences; Physical Research Laboratory (A unit of the National Research Institute for Space and Allied Sciences, Department of Space); and internationally renowned BETA Analytics lab (BETA Radiocarbon Dating lab) in Florida, USA.

“We sent the samples collected from the same ‘urn’ to the national institutes for Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) studies, and BETA lab for radiocarbon dating. The tests done by the three institutes returned identical results. A thorough comparative study of the results from various institutes showed that the results concurred. It is learnt from the results of the radiocarbon dating and OSL studies that iron was introduced in south India as early as 3,345 BC,” Stalin added.

Findings validated by experts

The findings of the studies were sent to nationally and internationally renowned archaeological experts engaged in research on the origin of iron and ancient technology, the Chief Minister said, adding that they have endorsed the findings on the introduction of iron.

Terming the findings of the research as a “new energy” to researchers and a catalyst for future excavations, he said the book ‘Irumbin Thonmai’ was published by collating the inputs from Cambridge University professor and Padma Shri awardee Dilip Kumar Chakravarthy and retired head of Archaeology Department of the Union Government Rakesh Tiwari, besides the views and findings of nationally renowned archaeologists.

Great gift to humanity from Tamil landscape

The metallurgical examination of artefacts obtained from archaeological sites and future excavations in archeological sites with iron ore deposits would add strength and clarity to the current findings, Stalin said.

“Let us wait for stronger validations in future. Based on the findings from recent excavations, let us say with pride that the technology of extracting iron from its ore was introduced in the Tamil landscape first at the national and global levels. I announce to the world with great pleasure that we have scientifically proved that iron was introduced here more than over 5,300 years ago. It is a matter of pride for Tamil, the Tamil race, Tamil Nadu, and the Tamil landscape. And we can say with great pride that it is a great gift from the Tamil landscape to the human race across the globe,” he said.

State Archaeology Minister Thangam Thennarasu, Chief Secretary N Muruganandam, Finance Secretary T Udhayachandran, and several archaeologists were present at the function where Stalin released the book and laid the foundation for the open-air museum in Keezhadi and museum in Gangaikonda Cholapuram.