Iron age civilization

The Iron Age, a pivotal period in human history, marked a significant transition from the Bronze Age, characterized by the widespread use of iron for tools, weapons, and agricultural implements.

It appeared independently in different areas around 1200 BC and continued for several centuries, leading to profound social changes.

During the Iron Age, iron smelting and forging techniques advanced, allowing for the mass production of stronger and more durable tools and weapons. This technological leap facilitated agricultural expansion, urbanization, and military conquest and changed the course of civilizations.

Various Iron Age cultures, such as the Celts in Europe, the Hittites in Anatolia, and the Vedic people in South Asia, left lasting legacies in art, religion, and governance. The period saw the rise of powerful empires and the development of written languages ​​that supported communication and historical records.

Overall, the Iron Age was a time of innovation, social development, and the foundation of many aspects of modern civilization.

The Iron Age civilization

Historical facts	The Iron Age
Evidence of Iron	Pirak
Associated with	Painted Grey Ware
Iron tongs	Atranjikhera
Iron implements	Jakhera
Iron cheekpiece	Timargarha

Introduction to the Iron Age Civilization

By the end of the Chalcolithic culture, rural settlements were established in all parts of India. However, fundamental changes in material culture were brought about by the use of iron. The “Iron Age” in a world context began around 1300 BC. Its use in India also began around this period. However, Gordon found no evidence for the use of iron in India before 250 BC, and Wheeler believed that the knowledge was introduced by the Achaemenids in 500 BC, common around 800 BC.

Iron proof

We have evidence that the iron at Pirak belongs to c. 1000 BC, at Mundigak, and in the Gandhara graves (1000 BC). An iron cheek was found at Timargarha. In South India, iron also appeared around 1000 BC in the Dharwad district of Karnataka. Some believe it spread from this area, although it was also known in northern areas. Evidence for iron use comes from the Punjab, northern Rajasthan, and the Ganga-Yamuna Doab. This period is known as the Later Vedic Age. At this time, we have both archaeological and literary evidence of the use of iron on a significant scale.

iron age civilization and Painted Gray Ware

In recent years, this Iron Age has been associated with painted gray pottery, first isolated as luxury ware at Ahichatra and later at Hastinapur. The distribution of this commodity extends from the dry Ghaggar bottom in Bahawalpur and northern Rajasthan, eastward across the Ganges and Indus basins, to the Ganga-Yamuna Doab. Sites like Rupar, Kurukshetra, Panipat, Indraprastha (Purana Qila), Mathura, Bairat, Sonepat, Atranjikhera, and Alamgirpur provided these goods. Allchins questioned the use of terms such as “Painted Gray Pottery Period” or “Painted Gray Pottery People” as they were not entirely different from the Late Harappans. The PGW sequence follows the traditions of ‘Ochre Colored Pottery’ followed by ‘Black and Red Burnished Ware’. The date for the second type is c. 1100-900 BC. After this period, PGW became common. This sequence is evident in Noh and Jodhpur in Rajasthan and Atranjikhera, Lal Qila, and Jakhere in UP. The recommended date is approx. 900–500 BC. The earliest date of iron in the area is from Atranjikhera, and the date is ca. 1150 BC. As most excavations at these sites were exploratory, occupancy levels were not studied. Second, the subsequent continuity of settlement created problems in this regard.

Iron Age civilization Hardware documents

In addition to wheat, barley, rice, cattle, pigs, and horses, a large number of iron tools have been discovered at Jakhera. The most frequently reported finds are arrowheads (barbed and leaf-like) and spearheads. Axes with shaft holes are reported from Noh and Atranjikhera. Atranjikhera also gave iron pincers. Copper objects have been found at Hastinapur, apart from glass beads and bangles, bone discs, etc. At Atranjikhera, iron implements include arrows and spear points, chisels, axes, and knives. Copper appears to be less common and includes antimony bars, nails, pins, bracelets, hooks, and dishes. Bone arrowheads and points are also common. Glass bracelets, terracotta, and earthenware are also mentioned.

PGW site

Approximately 725 PGW sites have been counted so far. Some of the major excavated sites are Ahichhatra, Alamgirpur, Allahpur, Atranjikhera Hastinapur, Khaloa, Mathura, Ropar, Sardargarh, Shravasti, Noh, Kampila, and Jakhera. Atranjikhera and Noh brought cloth prints.

The beginning of the Iron Age is unclear

In the central Indian region of Malwa and south-eastern Rajasthan, the beginning of the Iron Age is not very clear. M.D.N. Sahi recovered a dozen iron objects along with iron slag from the upper layers of Period I at Ahar, which indicated that the first introduction of iron took place around 1500 BC.

However, since at all other sites in the area, there appears to have been a long hiatus between the end of the Chalcolithic period and the Iron Age occupation, for example, eight centuries at Prabhas Patan (Somnath), the above date must be treated with great caution. Some iron objects with black-red ware appear in Nagda in period II. In Ujjain Period 1, objects included PGW sherds, iron arrowheads, and spearheads, as well as bone arrowheads.

Three radiocarbon dates are available for the iron-using layers at Eran: 1400 BC, 1270 BC, and 1239 BC According to D.K. Chakrabarti’s iron-using stratum at Nagda, it cannot be older than 1100 BC, while N.R. Banerjee thinks it dates back to 800 BC. This is the date of the beginning of the use of iron at Mahishadal, where we have evidence of local ironworking.

Evidence of Ironware in the Deccan

In the Deccan, the first iron objects appeared after the late Jorwegian Chalcolithic culture (ca. 900–800 BC). Sites like Nevasa, Chandoli, Inamgaon, Prakash, etc. do not show any hiatus between this phase and the iron phase. However, no radiocarbon dates are available for the early Iron Age. At Prakash, in the Tapi Valley, iron appears at the beginning of the NBP phase, and iron tools include flat chamber axes and shaft hole axes. Similar evidence comes from Bahal, along with associated burial sites at Tekwada.

Iron circulation in Karnataka

In the Karnataka region, excavations at Brahmagiri, Piklihal, Sanganakallu, Maski, Hallur, and Paiyampalli show that iron was introduced at the end of the Neolithic culture and Chalcolithic periods. The earliest phase of the Iron Age is identified at Piklihal and Hallur. Radiocarbon dates from Hallur indicate that this period may have begun as early as 1150–1030 BC.

A South Indian Iron Age burial complex

Another important cultural feature associated with the Iron Age is variously known as the South Indian Iron Age Burial Complex, Megalithic Complex, Pandukal Complex, etc. These Iron Age graves are found in a wide area, to be precise, in most parts of the Iron Age. A peninsula dominated by granite and gneiss.

Although the distribution is denser in the peninsula, we have some evidence of such burial sites outside this area as well, such as Baluchistan, Baghadur, Shah Bilawal, Leh Valley, Burzahom, Gufkral, Deosa (Rajasthan), Khera (UP), Kotia (Allahabad), Banda, Mirzapur, Kakoria (Varanasi), Saraikhola (Singhbhum), Assam, Bastar, etc. However, a remarkable feature of the megaliths is the lack of settlement sites for a comparable related culture.

Economy

The economy that characterizes the Megalithic culture in Peninsular India is reflected in finds of grain and artifacts. As regards cereals, sites in the Vidarbha region (Naikunda and Bhagimahari) yielded remains of peas, black gram, wheat, lentils, Indian jujube, and barley. In Tamilnadu, Paiyampalli provided residues of charred grains of gram, green gram, ragi, and Adichannallur, and residues of paddy, rice, and millet seeds. Evidence of paddy has come from sites in Karnataka (Fraserpet and Koppa).

Rice may have formed the main cereal crop in the southern region, in contrast to the wheat and barley of Vidarbha and the northern Deccan. Based on the abundance of agricultural tools such as sickles and hoes, it is suggested that the megalithic people did not practice agriculture on a settled scale but led a pastoral life (B.K. Thapar).

Black and red goods

Diagnostic features of the Megalithic culture include pottery known as black-and-red ware and the abundant use of iron. Four other related ceramics are All-Black Ware, Red Ware, Micaceous Red Ware, and Russet-coated Painted Ware. Similar Harappan graffiti is found on some ceramics.

The assortment of iron objects includes swords, daggers, barbed and smooth arrowheads, spears, flanged spears, flat iron axes with crossbands, chisels, pans, plates, ladles, lamps, tridents, nails, sickles, hoes, etc. Equipment for horses included bridles, bits, and barbed bits with loop ends. A copper sheet horse head ornament with iron riveted buttons sewn over the leather was found at Mahurdzhari.

A horsehead ornament was also reported at Khapa to be attached to a leather base. People lived in circular houses, had some gold ornaments and bracelets and glass beads, and built megalithic burial monuments. This culture blends into the Sangam period. A key factor in its spread appears to have been the introduction of iron weapons and the horse. The Iron Age peoples of the south seem to have been Dravidian speakers of various groups.

Conclusion

The Iron Age is an archaeological period that refers to the time when people began to use iron as tools and weapons. This new material changed the way society worked, providing people with a stronger and harder metal that could be shaped into various objects.

As a result of this technological advance, the Early Iron Age was marked by many changes in human culture, including art, architecture, and social structures.

If you want to learn more about this fascinating period, we recommend that you study some of the resources below. And if you have any questions or want to discuss your school project further, don’t hesitate to contact us! We will be happy to help you.

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