The Role of Iron Tools/ Implements in the Later Vedic/ PGW Culture

Abstract

The Role of Iron technology in the means of production and its deep impact on the society, economy and polity has been universally recognised by the historians and as well as archaeologists. In the present paper some fundamental questions regarding the issue mentioned above have been raised and answers sought for these questions. A wide range of literary and archaeological sources have been drawn for the discussion in this paper. The later Vedic texts and PGW archaeology emphatically show that the iron technology played a significant role in transforming the pastoral and semi- nomadic life of the Ṛgvedic people into a sedentary/ agricultural life of the Later Vedic people. Though, some technological constraints were felt over in the field of agriculture, yet the impact of iron weapons discovered from the PGW phase of culture and frequently referred to in the Later Vedic texts have been overwhelmingly accepted. The foundation and growth of kuru - pancalas kingdom has been ascribed to the role of iron- weapons possessed by them. The question regarding the role of iron in agricultural production and military purposes has been critically examined and evaluated. The causal connection between iron technology, plough agriculture and clearance of forests for making the land available for the habitation and agricultural expansion has been discussed. The archaeological and literary evidences under the study indicate that the iron technology also played a significant role in the process of acculturation as well. The role of horse and iron in the spread of Indo- Aryan language has been particularly noticed in this regard. Finally, the historical study of iron technology has been also traced critically in the present paper.