Ancient site · Tomb
Sivagalai
Also known as Sivakalai
An Iron Age urn-burial site near Adichanallur in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, excavated by the state's archaeology department. In January 2025 its report 'Antiquity of Iron' announced radiocarbon and luminescence dates of 3345–2953 BCE for layers with iron objects, which would make it the oldest iron-working anywhere.
Rice from an intact burial urn holding iron tools dated to about 1155 BCE, and scholars have pointed to disturbed layers and mixed samples, so the claim is not accepted as proven.
- Dates
- c. 1200–700 BCE (rice from a burial urn); a claim of iron at 3345 BCE is disputed
- Still standing
- No, or only traces
- Location
- 8.64° N, 77.97° E
How we know
A 2025 Tamil Nadu report dated iron here to 3345 BCE from charcoal, but rice from an urn with iron gave about 1155 BCE, and scholars question the early dates.
Nearby sites
- Adichanallur c. 1000–600 BCE (radiocarbon); earlier claims debated
- Keezhadi 6th century BCE–3rd century CE (radiocarbon); excavator proposes 8th century BCE; ASI questions this
- Kumari Kandam (legendary) legendary; no real date
- Pattanam c. 3rd century BCE–5th century CE
- Anuradhapura settled c. 900 BCE; capital from the 4th century BCE to the 10th century CE; sacred city today
- Kodumanal c. 5th–1st century BCE (dates debated)
Related
- Iron Age megalithic cultures of South India archaeological culture
- The world in 1500 BCE: Chariots and Empires chapter