GUWAHATI, May 23 � In a significant development, a team of archaeologists from the State�s Directorate of Archaeology discovered several new megalithic remains in Karbi Anglong district in a recent exploration drive. Megaliths have high archaeological value in knowing the cultures of the tribes of the NE region. The team had explored the entire Hamren subdivision for the purpose.
The Director of Archaeology, Dr Deepi Rekha Kouli told this correspondent that the Archaeology Directorate will make necessary correspondence with the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council for physical possession and for notifying the protection of the above megalithic sites.
It needs mention here that the practice of erecting megaliths is so far found only in a few isolated pockets among the tribes of Northeast India. These monuments are found to be associated with the mortuary practices which are directly linked with the funeral rituals of the people. Moreover, some megaliths are also erected in memory of great events such as victory in wars, establishment of villages etc. Megalithic monuments such as standing stones and dolmens or single menhirs are witness to the long and complicated rituals associated with the passage rites of the dead.
The team, which was headed by Director Dr Deepi Rekha Kouli and comprised the Directorate�s Technical Officer Nabajit Deori, Exploration Officer Chabina Hassan, Guide Lecturer Dilip Sarma, Photographer Apurba Gogoi and Foreman Arup Jyoti Deori, was assisted by the Gauhati University�s (GU) Department of Anthropology in its venture. It was the first joint effort of the Directorate of Archaeology and the GU Department of Anthropology to study the megalithic tradition.
Technical Officer Deori told this correspondent that the team explored a rich megalithic site called Nonjirong which dominates the western plateau of Hamren in Karbi Anglong giving an archaic picturesque landscape. Although many of the monuments here have crumbled or disappeared due to natural disaster, still a quite large number of them are standing. Nonjirong has undulating terrain, sparse vegetation, including pine trees and numerous rock formations. Among the five megalithic sites of Nonjirong, three sites have been previously reported. Two new sites have been discovered by the team which have immense archaeological potential.
Deori said that in its search for the megaliths, the team had visited Ronghan Lindole, Umchera, Rongali (Tikka), Mokoidhrum, Mowsalai and Muput, besides Nonjirong village.
Ronghan Lindole is the place of residence of the Karbi king, which is at present looked after by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. It is situated on the top of a hill. The team visited and documented a site known as Hithi, located on a bank of a stream Umrenkhang. Both dolmen and menhir variety of megaliths are found at the site. The size of the menhirs varies from 1.53 metre (m) to 0.58m while that of the dolmen slab varies from 1.35m to 1m found resting at the highest height of 0.88m from the ground level.
The megalith in Umchera is a single menhir erected by the side of a gravel road on the way to Kanduli. The front side of the menhir is flat and the backside is semi circular in shape. The upper portion is tapering towards the top. The measurement of the menhir is 2.95m�1.18m�0.80m (length�breadth�thickness).
Among the megalithic sites of Hamren subdivision, only the Tikka site is protected by a concrete boundary wall by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. The site has eight upright stones with dolmen slabs.
The team has done systematic mapping of the distribution of the megalithic monuments in the picturesque Karbi Anglong Hills landscape, which has offered close insights into the system of settlement pattern on these hills at the time when the megalithic culture was prevalent in the area, Deuri said.