A Technical Study of Megalithic Metal Objects (An Old and Rare Book)

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In writing the foreword to the publication of the doctoral dissertation on the subject ""A Technical Study of Megalithic Metal Objects"" by Dr. M.S. Mudhol, I am reminded of my early association with the excavation of the megalithic sites of Brahmagiri and Chandravalli (1947-48) as an officer in the Archaeological Survey of India after my initial assignment as a scholar involving classification and analysis of megalithic pottery from South Indian sites from Govemment Museums, in Madras, Hyderabad and Pudukottai. I also distinctly remember the address delivered by Sir Mortimer Wheeler to the Anthropology and Archaeology section of the Indian Science Congress at Bangalore in 1946 where he made a strong plea for scientific and technical studies of various types of objects and inorganic materials for drawing wide ranging conclusions on the environmental and ecological factors, In fact such a holistic study makes archaeology a very exciting science and gives it an objectivity which is so essential for understanding the complex nature of the human cultures particularly of proto and prehistoric past. The conclusions arrived at by scientific studies involving application of chemistry, physics, botany, paleology, geology, humanistic sciences like anthropology & psychology, sociology, linguistics, environmental studies and purely technical studies by the use of computers and many other related disciplines are now being increasingly harnessed in the service of archaeology. I am glad that this volume is a technical study of iron tools obtained in stratigraphic context from megalithic sites: Gaudageri Unachageri, Rajur, Hallur, Halingali, Hingani, all from Karnataka and Uppalapadu, Chinnamarur and Kadambapur from Andhra Pradesh.

The megalithic monuments spread over South India and Central India have produced a large variety of iron tools although very few habitational sites of the megalithic builders have been identified and excavated. But the transformation that took place both in North India and South India as a result of introduction of iron and in due course the mastery of iron technology is very important in understanding the emergence of the so called second urbanisation in the Gangetic Valley as also in the South. The excavations at Atranjikhera (Dt. Etah, Uttar Pradesh) and Hallur (Dt. Dharwar, Karnataka) have provided C-14 dating respectively as 1025+125 BC and 1085+105 BC but recent studies have pushed back the date to circa 12th century BC with possibilities of a still earlier origin. Scientific studies have established that high grade steel capable of producing sharp edges had been produced around 3rd to 2nd century B.C. It has often been mentioned that at the time Alexender the Great invaded India in 4th century B.C., India had mastered iron technology so as to produce quality steel. It was around 1913-15 that the late Prof. D.R. Bhandarkar then as an officer in A.S.I., came across fragments of wedges of iron for keeping the so called Helidorus' pillar (also known as Khambaba pillar at Besanagar, Vidisha) named after the Greek nobleman of Taxila, in position. He sent the iron pieces for chemical examination to Sir Hadfield of Sheffield laboratory. The examination undertaken by Sir Hadfield revealed that the sample contained iron-99.3%, Carbon-0.7%, Mn-0.02% and P. 0.02%. The results of this examination demonstrated for the first time that iron technology which made humble beginnings in the 12th century B.C., had progressed far so as to produce steel. This revolutionised the way of life in India both in the field of agriculture and architecture with wider impact on society. It would not have been possible in the absence of hard steel chisels and picks for the Asokan craftsmen to excavate into the hard quartos-gneiss of the Barbara Hills of Bihar or to chisel smoothly and inscribe the long circular shafts of Chunar sand - stones from which the Asokan pillars were fashioned. Commenting on the effect on society some scholars have attributed the wide use of iron technology as being one of the responsible causes for the emergence of the four-fold division of society. The crowning glory and spectacular result of this development is the forging of the inscribed Mehrauli tron column which stands in the Qutab Minar complex. Belonging to the Gupta period, (AD 390-495) it bears an Inscription which is an eulogy of the conquest of the powerful king named Chandra who was none other than Chandragupta II. The weight of this marvellous pillar is estimated to be over 16 tons and it is believed to have been made by successive forge welding blooms of about 36 kgs each of wrought iron ball/bar. This has been substantiated from the oxide films and deformed structure. Spectro chemical analysis revealed the presence of mg, mn, cu, ca, in addition to the elements found in the chemical analysis. It is fairly corrosion resistant and this has been an enigma to the scientists who have ascribed it to (i) purity of iron (ii) high phosphorous content (iii) low sulphur and absence of any other metal including that of manganese (iv) cinder formed on the surface (v) better conditions in the surface roughness (vi) better forge welding (vii) drier and on uncontaminated atmosphere conditions (Bhardwaj, 162, 1976)

The use of pure sciences, like chemistry, physics, botany, biology, metallurgy etc., in the study of archaeological remains is of recent past. In an effort to understand the historical progress of man over the millenniums from the artifacts that he fashioned and used, contribution of these sciences is a significant development. Dr. K.T.M. Hegde, the pioneer in this field in India, I am happy to recall, has contributed extensively through his exemplary researches. His work on zinc metallurgy in ancient India is noteworthy. His enthusiasm and thrill in this new path attracted to him many students including Dr. M.S.Mudhol.

Having gone through the doctoral thesis of Dr. Mudhol, who had the benefit of working under the directions of Dr. Hegde, I am convinced, the affirmations made in this work would provide stronger footholds for future researches in the realm of ancient iron technology in India. To cite an example a comparative study of metallurgical skills attained by different iron age cultures in India and abroad may well become an important area of research. The future scholars and researchers may find such an extension of research most pertinent in view of the nebulous chronology of the megalithic culture.

For the benefit of the scholars and researchers, it is necessary that I focus attention on some of the distinct areas of researches covered in this book and the importance of the specific findings. Among the many important issues delved into I consider the following as the most pertinent issues deftly handled in the research undertaken.

1. It examines whether iron technology was an offshoot of copper metallurgy of the Chalcolithic period. Dr. Mudhol's findings reiterate the fact that copper technology is the precursor of iron technology supporting earlier researches undertaken by Dr. Hegde with additional evidences.

2. An attempt is made to compare the Chalcolithic furnaces with those of megalithic period. Similarities among the furnaces which were in use are brought to light. This indeed is an additional contribution meriting notice.

3. The study has revealed that the megalithic iron objects studied herein were made of wrought iron. The examples quoted with detailed examination confirm this position as a distinct research affirmation.

4. The study throws light on the different smithery techniques, such as lamination, case-carburisation, steeling, quenching as followed by the megalithic people to produce the desired tools.

I am very happy to note that this thesis is really a good example of scientific research work produced after a detailed study of materials involving chemical analysis and photomicroscopy. This book is well illustrated with useful drawings, charts, photomicrographs I am thankful to Sri. M.N.Deshpande, Ex. D.G., Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi for writing an illuminating foreword to this book. Dr. V.Prakash, Director of the Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, graciously accepted the printing work. My sincere thanks are also due to Sri K.A. Ranganath, Head, FOSTIS and Sri. S.Umesh, Technical Officer, printing.

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