https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/indias-longest-iron-age-spear-unearthed-in-tamil-nadu-8ft-6-5ft-long-spears-found/articleshow/127587090.cms
We are hooked in by the journalist with notions of a mid-4th millennium BCE date at a completely different site. (Dates which are disputed; dates around 1200 BCE apparently coming from other contexts at that site). In respect of the date of the spears, and of their find site, we are left in ignorance by the story.
Quote from: Adrian Nayler on Mar 21, 2026, 03:56 PMIn respect of the date of the spears, and of their find site, we are left in ignorance by the story.
A quick follow up of reports from the site suggest the dating 3000 - 2500 BCE is "tentative" - presumably there is no scientific dating and they have fallen back on pottery typologies in the time-honoured Petrie tradition.
The dating looks to be merely speculation. The comments with the article look to be highly politicised culture wars amongst ethnic groups, which may have been the prime reason for speculating such an unprovenanced date. Obviously no metallurgical analysis has yet been done, nor is any strata data provided.