1. [n]  (classical mythology) the last and worst age of the world
2. [n]  (archeology) the period following the Bronze Age; characterized by rapid spread of iron tools and weapons

In the history of computing, 1961-1971 - the formative era of commercial mainframe technology, when ferrite core memory dinosaurs ruled the earth. The Iron Age began, ironically enough, with the delivery of the first minicomputer (the PDP-1) and ended with the introduction of the first commercial microprocessor (the Intel 4004) in 1971.

See also Stone Age; compare elder days.

[Jargon File]