The iron furnace discovered at Pandu Rajar Dhibi, located in Burdwan (now Bardhaman District), West Bengal, is one of the earliest pieces of evidence of iron smelting in India, dating back to 1100–800 BCE. This archaeological site is significant in understanding the emergence of iron technology in eastern India.
Date: Believed to be from the early Iron Age (1100–800 BCE).
Artifacts Found: The site yielded iron slag, furnace remains, iron tools, and weapons, indicating early iron smelting and metallurgy.
Cultural Context: Pandu Rajar Dhibi is associated with the Chalcolithic culture (copper and stone age), transitioning into the Iron Age.
Iron Technology in India: The discovery aligns with similar early ironworking sites in Malhar (Uttar Pradesh), Raja Nal-Ka-Tila (U.P.), and Naikund (Maharashtra), suggesting independent iron metallurgy traditions in the Indian subcontinent.
Significance: It challenges earlier theories that iron technology was introduced to India by external influences, supporting the idea of indigenous development of ironworking skills.
This discovery places Pandu Rajar Dhibi among the earliest centers of iron smelting and metallurgy in India, highlighting the region’s contribution to ancient technological advancements.
