Iron-Age Settlement Discovered in Topra Kalan | 12 Aug 2025

Source: IE 

Why in News? 

Evidence of human settlements dating back around 1500 BC has been discovered from Topra Kalan village in Haryana. 

• This period marks the transition from the Indus Valley Civilization (Bronze Age) (3300 BC to 1300 BC), to the Iron Age in India (around 1500 BC to 600 BC). 

What are the Key Archaeological Evidences Discovered at Topra Kalan? 

• Topra Kalan village: Topra Kalan village is the original site of the Delhi-Topra Ashokan pillar, which bears the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka’s edicts.  
  • It was relocated to the national capital in the 14th century by Firoz Shah Tughlaq. 
  • It is linked to ancient Buddhist activity as documented by Sir Alexander Cunningham and Hiuen Tsang, highlighting its significance in the Mauryan period (322- 185 BC). 
• Key Archaeological Evidences Discovered: 
  • Artifacts such as Painted Grey Ware (PGW), stamped pottery, moulded bricks, beads, and various pottery types like Black-and-Red Ware, reflecting cultural phases of late Bronze Age and early Iron Age Northern India. 
  • Structural remains such as walls, platforms, and room-like enclosures were uncovered at 4-5 meters depth, alongside a dome-like construction believed to be a Buddhist stupa. 

What are the Key Features of the Iron Age in India? 

• About: The Iron Age is a prehistoric period that followed the Bronze Age & it was characterized by the widespread use of iron for tools, weapons, and other implements.  
  • Iron making involved collecting ore, melting it, and shaping tools. 
• Iron in India: The Rigveda mentioned ayas which referred to copper/alloys & iron is not mentioned in this period.  
  • In later texts like the Atharvaveda, ayas/karshnyas refers to iron & other metals mentioned are rajata (silver), trapu (tin), and sisa (lead). 
  • But in the early historic period, ironworking appears in Buddhist texts and Kautilya’s Arthashastra, showing its use became important then. 

• Associated Cultures: 
  • In North India: 
    • Black-and-Red Ware (BRW): This pottery is distinguished by its black interiors and red exteriors, created through an inverted firing technique.  
      • BRW is found in the Harappan context (Gujarat), Pre-Painted Grey Ware (PGW) context in northern India, and in Megalithic contexts in southern India, marking an important phase during the Iron Age.
        
    • Painted Grey Ware (PGW) Culture: PGW culture is known for its grey pottery decorated with black geometric patterns. 
      • Iron artifacts have been found at PGW sites, especially in the Ganga valley and South Indian Megaliths during the 1st millennium BCE. 
    • Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) Culture: The NBPW culture period marked the widespread use of iron technology in the Indian subcontinent.
      • Characterized by fine, wheel-made, highly polished black pottery, NBPW is prominent in northern India.  
      • The period from 700 BC to 100 BC saw the rise of states and urban centres in the Ganga valley, marking the Second Urbanization. This era also coincided with the Mauruyan empire & spread of Buddhism in the region. 
    • The NBPW culture period marked the widespread use of iron technology in the Indian subcontinent.
    • The NBPW culture period marked the widespread use of iron technology in the Indian subcontinent.
    • Iron Age in South India: In peninsular India, the Iron Age is represented mainly by the Megalithic culture associated with habitation sites like Naikund (Vidarbha), where iron-smelting furnaces were discovered & Paiyampalli (Tamil Nadu), known for abundant iron slag.  
      • Recent excavations at Sivagalai, Tamil Nadu (2019–2022) indicate that iron might have been introduced as early as the fourth millennium BCE. Mastery over fire control technology was essential for iron extraction in this region. 
    • Iron Age in Other Regions: 
      • Central India (Malwa): Important sites include Nagda, Eran, and Ahar dating between 750–500 BCE. 
      • Middle and Lower Ganga Valley: Post-Chalcolithic pre-NBPW sites such as Pandu Rajar Dhibi, Mahisdal, Chirand, and Sonpur date to around 750–700 BCE.