Iron production in Telangana State in ancient times

 

The   history of iron and crucible steel production from ancient to early modern

times in the Telangana region is highly inspirating. It is currently difficult to say when iron production 

in Telangana began but iron objects have been found associated with megalithic burials. 

The inadvertent excavation of a megalithic burial by a local farmer in the village of Dacharam

in Karimnagar district revealed iron implements. At the same time  evidence is found , as

yet undated, for iron smelting near to this burial site. Iron and steel implements have

also been retrieved from excavations at the early Shatavahana site of Kotilingala, dated

to 350-80BCE. 

Kotilingala lies in Velgatur Mandal, Karimnagar district, at a strategic point

on the south bank of the Godaveri river. Archaeological excavations were conducted at

the site from 1979 to 1983. Some further idea of the potential antiquity of iron smelting

can be inferred from the recording of evidence for a coil-built iron smelting furnace at the

megalithic site at Naikund in Maharashtra