Excavation in Odisha's Purunagarh unearths ancient urban settlement, iron-smelting site
Excavations at Purunagarh reveal an ancient urban settlement and iron-smelting site with continuous habitation from prehistoric to early medieval times.Summary
Archaeologists at Purunagarh in Odisha have uncovered evidence of a significant ancient urban settlement and a large-scale iron-smelting industry. The excavation, led by the School of History of Gangadhar Meher University (GMU), began on May 10 and has yielded a wide range of artefacts, including prehistoric stone tools, chalcolithic stone axes, beads, pottery fragments, grinding stones, sharpening stones, stone celts, and household objects. The discovery of thousands of iron slag fragments and remains of an industrial complex or workshop indicates a thriving metallurgical practice. Additionally, the unearthing of pottery kilns and buried ceramic vessels suggests organised habitation patterns and specialised craft activities. These findings collectively demonstrate that Purunagarh was a prominent urban centre rather than a rural settlement, shedding new light on Odisha's early civilisation and technological heritage.
(Source：The New Indian Express)