Consider the following pairs: Historical Place Well known for 1. Hastinapur Important Painted Grey Ware (PGW) and early Iron Age site in Uttar Pradesh 2. Malhar Iron-smelting furnaces and early slag deposits in the Karamnasa River valley 3. Adichanallur Urn burial Megalithic site in Tamil Nadu yielding iron weapons and gold diadems Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? |ForumIAS

[A] 1 only

[B] 1 and 2 only

[C] 3 only

[D] 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D

Notes:

Detailed Explanation:

Pair 1 is correctly matched: Hastinapur in Meerut district (UP), excavated by B.B. Lal, revealed a clear Iron Age occupancy layer characterized by Painted Grey Ware pottery, iron implements, and domestic livestock remains.
Pair 2 is correctly matched: Malhar in Chandauli district (UP) yielded early evidence of iron smelting furnaces, slag, and iron artifacts dating back to the 2nd millennium BCE.
Pair 3 is correctly matched: Adichanallur on the Thamirabarani River in Thoothukudi district (TN) is an iconic Megalithic-Iron Age site famous for large urn burials (Thali), iron swords, daggers, spears, bronze artifacts, and gold forehead bands (diadems).