Photo Courtesy: nenow
Kohima: Archaeologists uncovered prehistoric human settlements in Nagaland. A joint expedition searched caves and rockshelters in the Noklak district this March. They explored the limestone karst terrain near Chiphur with help from the Chiphur Village Council. The team identified five caves and four rockshelters never studied before.
Lead researchers included Prof. Tiatoshi Jamir, Dr. Heme Lamthaiu, Dr. Limasanen Longkumer, Archaeological Research Officer Khumeng T., Robinson Huidrom, and Victoria Leyri from Delhi University. They represented the Department of History and Archaeology at Nagaland University and the Nagaland Department of Art and Culture.
Excavations revealed cord-marked pottery, ground stone tools, and ancient hearths. The team also found carbonised cereal remains, specifically foxtail millet and Job’s tears, mixed with wild animal bones. These items indicate the occupants relied on a mix of hunting and farming. Beta Analytic Laboratory in Florida used Accelerator Mass Spectrometry to date the findings. Their analysis confirmed the Leilo Kaa rockshelter dates back roughly 3,500 years. The Kathso Kaa cave showed occupation from about 1,000 years ago. These dates prove the sites saw continuous use from prehistory into the historical era.
Experts claim these findings prove Northeast India acted as a transit corridor for ancient human migration between South and Southeast Asia. The Naga Hills Ophiolite Belt remains a focal point for researchers. It holds clues about burial practices, tool-making, and ceramic technology. Researchers believe continued study will reshape how we view the area. As one expert stated, the sites provide "valuable insights into the subsistence practices and daily lives of the region's earliest inhabitants." The State Museum and Nagaland University will host a public exhibition of these recovered artifacts in October.
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