Verified20.9800° N · 79.1200° E · 300 m
Naikund — Vidarbha Iron Smelting Mound
Iron Age (700–400 BCE)·Vidarbha megalithic with iron technology·🇮🇳 Maharashtra, India
About
About Naikund — Vidarbha Iron Smelting Mound
Naikund — Vidarbha Iron Smelting Mound in Maharashtra, India is a Iron Age (700–400 BCE) megalithic attributed to Vidarbha megalithic with iron technology. Stone circles and iron slag heaps 800 kg at Naikund with furnaces. Naikund type-site for Vidarbha iron smelting transition to Early Historic.
Why it mattersKey Harappan or megalithic pastoral site defining Deccan trajectory
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chalcolithic–Harappan chronology
- 02Ash mound pastoralism model
Theories
- 01Water management
- 02Pastoral cattle cult
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 600 BCE
- Period
- Iron Age (700–400 BCE)
- Culture
- Vidarbha megalithic with iron technology
- Purpose
- Stone circles and iron slag heaps 800 kg at Naikund with furnaces
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 600 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1900 CE
Archaeological survey
On the ground
Structures & features
20.9800° N · 79.1200° E · 300 m · 4 mapped features
- Naikund — Vidarbha Iron Smelting Mound — Stone Circle / CairncircleMain stone circle or cairn20.9801° N · 79.1201° E
- Naikund — Vidarbha Iron Smelting Mound — Cist ChambercistUnderground cist burial20.9798° N · 79.1202° E
- Naikund — Vidarbha Iron Smelting Mound — Menhir AlignmentmenhirStanding stone row20.9804° N · 79.1198° E
- Naikund — Vidarbha Iron Smelting Mound — Outlier CairncairnSmall outlier mound20.9796° N · 79.1199° E