In the town of Maite, a rock cliff presents a prominent human figure surrounded by smaller human figures, animals, gongs, a row of mithun heads and some unidentified simolas. | Photo credit: Indian archaeological service
The Archaeological Service of India (as) has announced the discovery of rock art sites of four centuries in Mizoram, estimated to date between the 16th and 19th centuries. The sites were documented during a village survey to Aldea made by a team of three members in the districts of Champhai, Khawzwww, Saitual and Servhhip in February.
In the village of Maite, Saitual District, a rock cliff presents a prominent human figure surrounded by smaller human figures, animals, gongs, a row of mithun heads and some unidentified symbols, the LO said. The mithun (Bos frontalis) is a semi-domicted bovine found in the region.
The sculptures found in Lianpui in the Champhai district include a prominent human figure, stacked rows of human figures, animals, fish, spears, dao (a type of machete), calaos and rectangular cameras, sacrificing in the past artistic express of the region.
Sizes in Lianpui in the Champhai district. | Photo credit: Indian archaeological service
In the Khawzawl district, the findings in size included engraved mithun heads, human figures, serious marks and rectangular figures on a fixed rock surface. In Chhawrtu, also in Khawzwl, the sizes understood a unique combination of human figures, Mithun heads, rows of human heads, a circular figure with tendril lines and a reason for fish, all intricately carved.
“These discoveries highlighted the rich cultural heritage of Mizoram and the artistic expression of its former inhabitants,” said the like this, almost two months after the survey concluded.
The team was led by Salam Satham Singh, the Superintendent archaeologist as an ASOWL headquarters. He confirmed that a detailed report on discoveries has sent the leg to the headquarters of LO.
“Such surveys precede an excavation. The locals reported that the thesis sizes of the United States have existed in the villages for centuries, but they seemed to be from the 16th to the 19th century. We can be conclusive only after the carbon dating of the samples,” said Mr. Singh.
Lost civilization
The recently discovered rock art sites, which have a proposed leg for protection, are located in an area that surrounds Catchhia in the Champhai district. In January 2016, the thus previously identified Vangchhia as a infect that pointed out that the beams had a significant settlement, enhanced a “lost civilization” that dates back to the Neolithic era, describing it as a “Museum of Living History.”
The Vangchhia site, which covers approximately 45 square kilometers and is 260 kilometers from Aizawl, threw pictographs recorded in large stone slabs, menhirs (large stones standing), a necropolis (a large burial terrain). Particularly remarkable was a structure identified as a water pavilion and numerous strategically perforated holes, ranging from less than one foot to a meter in diameter, found in the sandstones through several hills of the hills.
After more than two years of research, archaeologists developed theories to be “seemingly simple science” or water collection techniques used in Vangchhia, probably capable of maintaining local populations for at least one year. They noticed how the inhabitants seemed to have caught the rainwater that flowed down the slopes using natural fissures and veins in the rocks, improved by perforated holes. The researchers suggested that this natural adaptation could have ignored the need to build large water tanks, despite the team’s ability to do so.
Among the theories proposed by perforated holes were denying enemies easy access to water sources, attracting animals for hunting and possible rititist practices. However, all theories converged in the primary function of the efficient water harvest.
Published – April 17, 2025 9:16 pm ist
