Mud walls in Warangal reveal iron and steel factories thrived centuries ago
History and archaeology enthusiast Ratnakar Reddy found slag stones, which are locally known as the ‘Chittepurallu’, in the mud walls of the old houses at Yerragollapahad village of Jangaon mandal.
Warangal: It seems that the earthen walls across Telangana are standing as a testament to the iron and steel industry once thrived in this region several thousands of years ago.
History and archaeology enthusiast Ratnakar Reddy, who has been visiting many villages in the erstwhile Warangal district for the last several years in an attempt to unearth the hidden history, said that he had found the slag stones, which are locally known as the ‘Chittepurallu’, in the mud walls of the old houses at Yerragollapahad village of Jangaon mandal a couple of days ago.
“Slag is a by-product of the iron and steel-making process. Slag has traditionally been used as a component of cement and construction aggregate. Use of the slag is a shred of good evidence that the iron and steel industries thrived in this region centuries ago,” he said adding that he had also found some pieces of evidence of manufacturing of the iron and steel on the banks of a stream near the village.
“There are several other shreds of evidence that tell that the iron and steel industry in Telangana emerged as a cottage industry as early as 3,000 years BC. The State government should make efforts to conduct some research to unearth the hidden history,” Ratnakar Reddy observed. Local residents Srikanth and Deepak accompanied Ratnakar Reddy during his inspection at the village.
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