Studies into Ironworking during the Megalithic Period in Nagpur District of Vidarbha, Maharashtra

Shraddha Singh*, Devyani Meghare, and Sachin Vidyadhar Joshi

The study investigates the metallurgical practices of the Megalithic period in the Nagpur district of Vidarbha, with special reference to the sites of Naikund and Dongargaon. Provenance analysis is undertaken to trace elemental signatures associated with the base metal, enabling identification of raw material sources and patterns of resource procurement. A comprehensive elemental compositional study of slag, bloom, ore, and finished iron artefacts by XRF and XRD methods forms the core of the investigation, helping to reconstruct stages of iron production. Hematite ore, iron bloom, and iron artefacts from Naikund, and slag from Dongargaon and Naikund, were analysed together to measure how much iron was produced during the extraction process. Inter‑site and intra‑site comparative analyses are employed to examine technological similarities, regional variations, and craft specialisation within the Megalithic community. The research aims to understand technological development, resource utilisation, and production organisation through an archaeometallurgical approach. However, to this day, such a study has been very rarely explored in Vidarbha Megaliths. Evidence for ore preparation, such as roasting, is examined to understand the level of technological knowledge and operational planning involved in metallurgical production. By integrating compositional, technological, and contextual archaeological data, the present study seeks to illuminate the technological sophistication of Megalithic ironworking communities in Vidarbha.