CHENNAI: The iron spear may once have been wielded by an ancient warrior to defend cattle and wealth, or it may have been a ceremonial object crafted for a powerful individual and buried as a symbol of status.
Following the discovery of one of India’s oldest Iron Age dates (3,345 BCE) at Sivagalai in Tuticorin, archaeologists from Tamil Nadu have now unearthed an 8-foot-long iron spear at Thirumalapuram, located about 80 km away. Experts told The Times of India that this is the longest iron implement from the Iron Age found in the country so far.
A second, shorter spear was also recovered. “We found two spears placed in an ‘X’ formation beside an urn. One was 8 feet long and the other 6.5 feet. Gold objects were also found inside the urn,” said archaeologist K Vasanthakumar, who led the excavation. The longer spear is slightly rounded at one end, suggesting it was designed for a firm grip.
The discovery adds to growing evidence of advanced metallurgy in the region. “Such burial sites often yield weapon-grade objects such as daggers, swords, knives and spears, indicating they may have been used by ancient warriors,” said Vibha Tripathi, an Iron Age expert and former professor of archaeology at Banaras Hindu University. She added that iron preservation in Tamil Nadu is significantly better than in the Gangetic plains, where moist soil accelerates corrosion and often leaves only impressions of metal artefacts.
R K Mohanty, former professor of proto and ancient Indian history at Deccan College, Pune, suggested the longest spear may have been custom-made for ceremonial use. “It could have been crafted to reflect the social status and importance of the individual buried in the urn,” he said.
Both Tripathi and Mohanty called for more extensive scientific studies to strengthen global acceptance of the findings. Mohanty noted that iron smelting requires temperatures of 1,200°C to 1,500°C, underscoring the technological sophistication of the period. “Research should be expanded to other sites within the region and beyond Tamil Nadu,” he said.
K Rajan, academic and research adviser to the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology, said evidence suggests iron technology existed in Tamil Nadu between 3000 BCE and 2500 BCE. Joint director R Sivanandam added that over the next two years, the department, in collaboration with the IIT Gandhinagar metallurgy department, will study multiple Iron Age sites across the state to trace the evolution of iron technology.
