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Excavated bones to go through DNA analysis

By Correspondent

SIVASAGAR, April 25 � DNA analysis of blood samples of the descendents of the Ahom kings will be done to ascertain the relationship with the bones found during the excavation at the Charaideo Maidam.

This statement was made by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Addressing a press conference at the ASI office here on Thursday evening, Dr Veena Mushrif Tripathy, Assistant Professor at the Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute, Pune said, �Since the excavation was done in 2002 at the Charaideo Maidam, it has remained a subject of curiosity among the people. The excavated human remains from the Charaideo Maidam have been studied at the ASI�s Sivasagar Sub-Circle Office and intersesting findings have been come to light after the anthropological analysis.�

Revealing about the findings, Dr Veena Mushrif said, �During the excavation, bones of six individuals were found, but the number of skulls found were five. It is evident from the long bones that there were at least six individuals. The five skulls were of four females and one male.

The male was probably in his 40s, whereas out of the four females, two were in their 20s and the other two in their 30s. The five skulls recovered during the excavation comprises of three mandibles, two radia, two tibia, two scapula, six ribs and 46 long bones.� Though a human skeleton has 206 bones, there should have been a total of 1,236 bones recovered against six persons, though only 66 bones were found, she further said.

�One Madhurjya Rajkonwar of Charaideo has been helping to unearth the mystery. He is very much interested to know about his history. He belongs to the Tai Ahom community, and most importantly, to the royal family. He is helping us to know the unknown history of the Ahoms and of Assam at large.�

Speaking on the subject, Superintending Archaeologist of ASI, Dr Milan Chauley said, �ASI is conducting the huge task in collaboration with Dr Veena Mushrif Tripathy of the Deccan College of Pune and Dr Thangraj and his group from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad.�

Samples are being sent to CCMB for DNA testing, which will take at least 1 to 2 years as it is very tedious job to take out the ancient DNA from the bones, Dr Chauley further added.

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