The earliest literary references to iron in the Indian Sub-Continent a

The earliest literary references to iron in the Indian Sub-Continent are found in the :

[amp_mcq option1=”Rigveda” option2=”Samaveda” option3=”Yajurveda” option4=”Vinaya Pitaka” correct=”option3″]

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UPSC CAPF – 2016

The correct answer is C. The earliest literary references to iron (referred to as Shyama ayas or Krishna ayas) in the Indian Subcontinent are found in the later Vedic texts, including the Yajurveda, Atharvaveda, and Brahmanas.

– The Rigveda, the oldest Vedic text, primarily mentions ‘ayas’, which is generally interpreted as copper or bronze.
– Later Vedic texts, composed after the Rigveda (c. 1000 BCE onwards), show clear knowledge and use of iron. The term ‘Shyama ayas’ or ‘Krishna ayas’ (black metal) is used to distinguish it from ‘lohita ayas’ (red metal, i.e., copper/bronze).
– The Yajurveda is one of the principal later Vedic texts where such references appear.
– The Samaveda is primarily a collection of hymns meant for chanting and does not contain as much material on material culture as the Yajurveda or Atharvaveda.
– The Vinaya Pitaka is part of the Buddhist canon (Pali Canon) and belongs to a later period (post-6th century BCE) compared to the Vedic texts.

The archaeological evidence for the use of iron in India corresponds with the period of the later Vedic texts, around 1000 BCE, particularly in regions like Gandhara and subsequently spreading to the Gangetic plain, coinciding with the Painted Grey Ware (PGW) culture. The introduction and spread of iron technology significantly impacted agriculture, warfare, and settlement patterns in ancient India.

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