Springer eBooks, 2020

Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology, 2018

Springer eBooks, 2020

Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology, 2014

Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology, 2014

Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology, 2014

LAP Lambert Academic Publishing, Düsseldorf, Germany, 2019

The use of stone to create tools and weapons marks an important stage in human development and begins the era of the Stone Age. Lithic users of early societies gradually realized the potentiality of the metals and started to work on ore. Among all, easy accessibility of the iron ore in most of the geographical zones and strong and lustrous character attracted the human and gradually replaced the media in preparation of implements and weapons. Further, started using iron extensively by the end of the second millennium BCE, because of a better metal harder than copper, for making tools and weapons. Moreover, advent of metals and metal technology was also a major breakthrough in the history of mankind. It has changed the earlier façade of the lithic based culture and great changes in the socio-cultural and economic conditions of the early societies. The period may vary from region to region, but the metallurgy and utility of iron has changed the entire scenario of the early societies. Early smelting methodologies, though primitive and crude, are base for technological developments. During the period many new trends were evolved for the first time in Indian subcontinent also. They are – settlements with permanent structures, metals and metallurgy, development of various crafts, large scale commercial based productions, socio-cultural systems, inter and intraregional contracts, religion, educational institutions, large settlements of different nature, etc. So many developments occurred which changed the entire scenario of the early lithic based culture to sophisticated way of life throughout the region and many cultural trends prevailed till now. Socio-cultural development during the Early Iron Age on the bank of the lower Palar river on the southern part of India drawn from the recent archaeological excavation conducted by the present author is the subject matter for the present volume. It may also be noted that a few of which are not only reported for the first time but also new to the archaeological records.

Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology, 2014

Timothy Earle (Fig. ) is an anthropological archaeologist whose interests center on the political economies of intermediate societies (chiefdoms) and archaic states. Earle received a B.A. from Harvard College (1969) and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan (1973). He was

Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology, 2014

Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology, 2014

Timothy Earle (Fig. ) is an anthropological archaeologist whose interests center on the political economies of intermediate societies (chiefdoms) and archaic states. Earle received a B.A. from Harvard College (1969) and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan (1973). He was