In a groundbreaking discovery near the site of Lothal, archaeologists have identified a specialized industrial forge used for the processing of meteoric iron. Chemical analysis of metallic fragments found within the workshop reveals a high nickel-to-cobalt ratio, confirming their extraterrestrial origin and predating the terrestrial Iron Age by nearly a millennium.
The find suggests that Harappan metallurgists possessed the advanced technological knowledge to identify and work with rare celestial iron. The site includes specialized high-heat crucibles and stone anvils showing unique wear patterns associated with the extreme temperatures required to forge meteorite-based tools and ritual objects.