This paper by Dr Sauradeep Nath was published in the Journal of Indian History and Culture (December 2025, Thirty-sixth Issue), C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar Institute of Indological Research, Chennai.
Abstract
The Ahom dynasty ruled over the Brahmaputra Valley from the thirteenth to the nineteenth centuries. During this period, they utilised iron to make tools and weapons of various shapes and sizes. However, there has not been a detailed study to discuss their sources of iron. The study, therefore, aims to identify the Ahom sources of iron ore and understand their mining, smelting and forging processes; enumerate their iron trade with neighbouring ethnic groups, such as the Khasi; and, third, elicit the acquisition of iron as tribute from the Dimasa kingdom. In doing so, the existing literature is reviewed and corroborated with the Buranji or the Ahom chronicle to provide novel interpretations and understanding. In other words, the article offers a synthesis of Ahom’s multiple sources of acquiring iron and its utility aftermath.
Keywords: Ahom kingdom, Buranji, iron ore, Khasi ethnic group, Northeastern region
The full paper
